EASPBEKEY. 



149 



the infested shoots in summer being twisted and curled 

 up, and the ends of the young canes also curl over and 

 frequently assume a singular fasciated form. In the fall 

 the leaves on the infested canes do not drop off^ but curl 

 up, and remain attached lo the diseased stems. This 

 pest appears to be on the increase, especially in the Eastern 

 States, and every one having Blackberry plants in his 

 garden should be on the look-out for it, and, when found, 

 it should be gathered and burned. This operation should 

 be performed either early in the morning or during the 

 cool wet weather, else many of the insects will escape, 

 and at the same time the shoots, as severed, should be 

 immediately dropped into bags, and then carried to the 

 place where they are to be burned. 



Several species of borers infest the Blackberry ; one of 

 the most common is a red-necked beetle, the Oherea per- 

 spicillata of Haldeman, figure 65. The small 

 eyeless grubs bore the pith of the canes, causing 

 them to die prtoiaturely, or so weakening 

 them that they are broken down by the wind. 

 As there are some fourteen or fifteen species 

 of the Oherecc described in our entomological 

 works, it may be that more than one infest 

 the canes of the Blackberry and Easpberry. bushboeek. 



The Blackberry is subject to the attacks of several 

 species of gall-insects. A fuzzy, prickly gall on the twigs 

 is produced by a four-winged fly {Diastroplms citscutcB- 

 formis 0. S). Another species of the same genus {Dias- 

 troplms neiulosus 0. S. ) produces a large pithy gall on 

 the canes, but both of these gall-makers have very formid- 

 able parasitic enemies which keep them in check. There 

 are also a few leaf-eating beetles, slugs, and caterpillars, 

 that sometimes attack the Blackberry, but they are sel- 

 dom suflBciently numerous or injurious to attract much 

 attention. The larger species are readily destroyed by 



