INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE STRAWBERRY. 



ATTACKING THE EOOTS. 



No. 190. — The Strawberry Root-borer. 



Anay^sia lineatella Zeller. 



When occurring in great numbers, this insect is very inju- 

 rious, playing sad havoc with the strawberry-plants. The 

 borer is a small caterpillar, nearly half an inch long, and of a 

 reddish-pink color, fading into dull yellow on the second and 

 third segments, the anterior portion of the second segment 

 above being smooth, horny-looking, and brownish yellow 

 like the head. On each segment there are a few shining, 

 reddish dots, from every one of which arises a single, fine, 

 yellowish hair. The under surface is paler. This borer eats 

 irreo-ular channels through the crown, sometimes excavating 

 large chambers, at other times tunnelling it in various direc- 

 tions, eating its way here and there to the surface. If ex- 

 amined in the spring, most of the cavities will be found to 

 contain a moderate-sized, soft, silky case, nearly full of cast- 

 ings, which doubtless has served as a place of retreat for 

 the larva during the winter. 



Early in June, when mature, the caterpillar changes to a smal 1 , 

 reddish-brown chrysalis, either within one of the cavities ex- 

 cavated in the crown, or among decayed leaves or rubbish 

 about the surface, from which the moth escapes early in July. 



The moth (see Fig. 333) is very small, of a dark-gray color, 

 with a few blackish-brown spots and streaks on the fore wings. 

 The fringes bordering the wings are gray tinged with yellow. 

 The moth lays an Qgg on the crown of the plant late in July 

 or early in August, which soon hatches; the small cater- 

 pillar burrows into the heart of the plant, and remains in one 

 of the chambers during the winter, occupying one of the silky 



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