66 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
snout-beetle, “which lays its eggs in the buds 
“of the strawberries, following this by eating 
away the part of the stem below the bud, 
causing it to droop,”’ known as the strawberry 
weevil is one of the most injurious insects 
of the fruit. A little white grub, which 
develops from the egg in the bud, becomes 
fully developed in a few weeks. About five 
weeks after the egg is laid it emerges from 
the pupal stage as a perfect beetle ready 
to begin work on other flowers. 
Clean culture is very necessary in combat- 
ing this insect, especially with reference to 
neighbouring old strawberry or blackberry 
beds. As these latter are insect-breeding 
beds they should be destroyed. Applications 
of insecticides are not of value, as the insect 
feeds inside the bud. 
Covering the beds, if the plantation is 
small, will prevent entrance of the insect. 
The commercial grower must depend on 
rotation of crops, clean culture and plough- 
ing or burning over badly affected beds. 
Many times malformed fruit is found 
which is known as “buttoning.” This is 
caused by the check in the growth of the 
young fruit given by the tarnished plant 
