THE CUERANT 13UD-MITE, OR CURRANT GALL-MITE. 293 
them located within the apical buds on branches sent to me from Woburn, 
and, strange to say, the branches were from bushes which had previously 
received a monthly dressing of kerosene, naphtha, and formaldehyde. 
Eggs, — Present in newly formed buds. 
August. 
Mites. — On the 18th, in 1898, I found a marked increase in number 
in the newly formed buds. No trace of them in the old buds, which had 
quite dried up, or elsewhere upon the foliage, &c. 
Eggs. — Present in newly formed buds. 
Septembee. 
Mites. — During the second and third week of this month, both in 1893 
and again in 1898, I found the mites present in the majority of the new 
buds, some of which, and more especially the terminal ones, were showing 
unmistakable evidence of the disease. 
Eggs. — As noted in two previous months. 
OCTOBEE. 
Mites. — In 1899 I noted that the mites were much more numerous 
than I had ever before seen them at a corresponding period of the year. 
Eggs. — Present, but comparatively scarce. 
Summary. — That the first appearance of mites within the newly 
formed buds was about the second and third week in J uly ; previous to 
this date they were found located behind the leaf stalks. Tracing them 
onwards through the months which follow we find them steadily in- 
creasing in numbers, the maximum number being reached in March 
and April. 
From this time onwards the death rate is simply enormous. As the 
diseased buds die, the mites die with them, comparatively few aj^pear to 
leave them and ascend to the newly formed buds. I have only twice 
observed the mites migrating. In the first instance in March 1893, and 
again in the middle of April 1898. This alone gives a period of about 
four weeks, and how much longer they continue their migrations in this 
country has yet to be proved. It seems to me, however, that as the mites 
continue to inhabit the old buds up to the beginning of July, it is only 
reasonable to infer that the migrations would extend to that date, which 
practically covers a period of five months.* 
The number of mites tenanting a single bud would vary according to 
the time of year. By desire of Mr. Spencer Pickering, I last year 
(January 9, 1900) selected a medium- sized bud-gall, and in it counted 
2,748 individuals ; allowing for many individuals destroyed in dissecting 
the bud, I should put the number in round figures at 3,000. Larger buds 
* Miss Ormerocl (quoting from Dr. Nalepa's work) says in the latter part of 
summer and in autumn the mites leave the galls in multitudes to take possession of 
their winter quarters — that is, the buds. " This emigration also is of frequent occur- 
rence when the previously inhabited buds dry mp.''— Handbook of Orchard and Bush 
Fruit Insects, p. 62. 
H2 
