INSECT ENEMIES AND FRIENDS. 



497 



during the winter, that is, before the buds begin to swell 

 in the spring. Take care that every part is welted, and 

 particularly the terminal buds, which are most liable to 

 be attacked. 



Gooseberry and Currant Saw Fly, The (Nematus 



ribesti). — Gooseberry and Currant bushes suffer more from 



GOOSEBERRY SAW FLY. 

 Gooseberry Saw Fly, Grubs, and Cocoon. 



the attacks of this than of any other insect, and at times 

 the leaves are literally stripped off by their grubs. The 

 saw flies lay their eggs on the under-sides of the leaves 

 near the veins as soon as the)' begin 

 to expand, and the grubs lose no time 

 as soon as the)' are hatched in 

 beginning to feed on the leaves. They 

 are full grown in about three weeks, 

 then bury themselves in the ground 

 and become chrysalides, from which 

 the second brood of saw flies emerge 

 in about a fortnight, and the second 

 brood of grubs may be found in July. 

 These, in due course, become 

 chrysalides in the soil, but remain in 

 this condition until the spring, when 

 the saw Hies are developed. The 

 grubs are often confused with the 

 caterpillars of the magpie moth, but 

 are, however, perfectly distinct, as 

 pointed out in the note on that insect. 

 The methods of killing both insects 

 are the same while they are feedin 



dust- 

 ing with a mixture of lime and soot when the leaves 

 are wet, or syringing with paraffin emulsion or quassia 

 extract and soft soap. Many may be shaken down and 

 then killed with the back of a spade. The winter 

 treatment, however, is quite different, for the saw fly 

 grubs, when they are full grown, bury themselves in the 

 soil, and each forms a papery cocoon round itself. 

 Within this it becomes a chrysalis, from which the 

 saw fly emerges in the spring. The best winter treat- 

 ment, therefore, is to remove the soil to a depth of 

 about 4m. from under the bushes, and then burn it, or 

 bury it not less than I ft. below the surface, so that the flies 

 will not be able to reach the open air when they leave the 

 chrysalides. The earth also may be spread about near 

 poultry, which will soon pick out all the cocoons. The 

 saw flies measure about fin. across the wings, their bodies 

 being yellow, with a black patch between the wings ; 

 their heads are black. The grubs when full grown are 

 rather more than Jin. in length, of a greenish grey 

 colour, covered with small raised black dots, from which 

 grow fine black hairs ; the cocoons are not quite |in. in 

 length, and are black and papery. 

 Ground Beetles {Carabidm). — The beetles belonging to 

 this family are as a rule decidedly useful in gardens, as 

 both they and their grubs are carnivorous, feeding on 

 small insects, grubs, worms, etc. But a few species have 

 lately become notorious by attacking ripe Strawberries, 



GROUND BEETLE. 

 Ground Beetle and Grub (Pterostichits 

 madidus), 



namely, 



and in some places to such an extent that crops have been 

 practically destroyed. The ground beetles are very 

 active, and may often be seen running swiftly across 

 garden paths. There are a large number of species, and 

 Lhey vary very much in size (from ^in. to more than 1 in. 

 in length), nearly all being of a glossy brown, black, 

 metallic blue, green, or copper colour. The four species 

 that have been found attacking Strawberries are Harpalus 

 ruficornis, Pterostichus melanarius, madidus, and 

 Calathus cisteloides, the first three being much alike to 

 the ordinary observer. They measure from Jin. to I in. 

 in length, and are shining black in colour ; the fourth 

 species is also black, but considerably smaller than the 

 others. These beetles injure the fruit by gnawing the 

 surface, removing the seeds, and eating holes in the flesh. 

 Thev leed at night, hiding in cracks in the ground or 

 under stones and litter during the day. The only way, 

 apparently, to destroy them is by trapping, which may 

 be done by burying small basins or other vessels nearly 

 full of sugar and water and bits of offal so that their brims 

 are level with the surface of the soil. Pieces of meat, 

 which need not be of the freshest or primest cut, may 

 be hidden under old sacks or mats, as these will 

 attract numbers of them. A spade or something of the 

 kind should lie at hand when the shelter is lifted, for the 

 beetles run very fast, and many would escape while they 

 were being caught by hand. If straw is laid on the 

 ground they will hide in the earth beneath it and may be 

 turned out with a spud or trowel. 

 Magpie Moth, The [Abraxas qrossulariata). — The cater- 

 pillars of this common moth are very destructive to the 

 foliage of Gooseberry and Currant 

 bushes, and to a certain extent to the 

 flowering Currant, commonly known 

 as Ribes, and Euonymus ; they are 

 often confused with the grubs of the 

 Gooseberry saw fly, and it is ceitainly 

 curious that there should be a con- 

 siderable similarity in their colouring, 

 for both are of a pale colour with 

 black spots. The caterpillars are, 

 however, nearly as large again as the 

 saw fly grubs, their spots are much 

 larger in proportion, and they have 

 only five pairs of legs, while the grubs 

 have ten pairs. When full grown they 

 bury themselves in the earth and 

 become chrysalides, while the 

 caterpillars form their chrysalides 

 on the bushes. It is important 

 to note these differences, as after an attack the winter 

 treatment, to prevent a recurrence of the insects the 

 following season, is quite different. As soon as the young 

 leaves begin to appear in the spring, the caterpillar which 

 have passed the winter in the shelter of crumpled leaves 

 begin their work of destruction, and feed on the voung leaves 

 until thev are lull grown in May or June. Each cater- 

 pillar then spins a thin web-like cocoon on the stems or 

 among the leaves, within which they become chrysalides. 

 In llie course of about a month the moths make their 



7. Magpie Moth. 



MAGPIE MOTH. 

 2. Caterpillar. 



3. Chrvsalis. 



