ATTACKING THE LEAVES. 



343 



Fig. 356. 



No. 206.— The Native Currant Saw-fly. 



Pristiphora grossularice Walsh. 



Although this is not a very common insect, it has been 

 reported as destructive from several localities. In its per- 

 fect state it is also a saw-fly, resembling the imported species 

 (see 6, Fig. 356), yet there are differences which the entomolo- 

 gist can readily de- 

 tect, that place this 

 insect in a different 

 genus ; such as the 

 arrangement of the 

 veins on the wdngs, 

 the close resemblance 

 of the sexes, and the 

 marked difference in 

 the relative size of 

 the two insects, the native species being but two-thirds the 

 size of the imported one in all its various stages. 



The larva (a, Fig. 356) of this s^xicies is always green, and 

 is never ornamented with black spots, which are so numerous 

 on the imported insect as it approaches maturity; neither do 

 the young larvse gather in large numbers on one particular 

 leaf, but are from the first scattered over the bushes. There 

 are two broods in the year; the first one may be looked for 

 about the end of June, and the second during the latter part 

 of August. 



The cocoons, which are similar in appearance to those of 

 the imported saw-fly, but smaller, are usually constru(;ted 

 among the twigs and leaves of the bush on which the larvae 

 have fed. 



The winged insects, of which the female is represented in 

 the figure, have the body black, with yellow markings ; the 

 second brood are said to come out of chrysalis the same 

 season, which, if correct, involves the conclusion that the 



