April, ’24] belong & mathewson: houghton gooseberry aphis 295 
In some cases the treatment apparently hastened the death of trees 
weakened by infections of crown rot or root rot fungi. 
Where excessive amounts of the material were used or where the 
material was placed in direct contact with the bark of the tree, severe 
injury resulted. 
Applications of one-half ounce'made to one and two-year-old prune 
trees resulted in the death of the trees in some instances, and we con¬ 
sider the application dangerous to trees of this age. 
Vice-President S. B. Fracker: The next paper is by D. M. DeLong 
and A. A. Mathewson. 
THE HOUGHTON GOOSEBERRY APHIS (MYZUS HOUGHTO- 
NENSIS) AS A PEST IN OHIO 
By D. M. DeLong and A. A. Mathewson, Columbus , Ohio 
* 
Abstract 
The Houghton Gooseberry Aphis injures gooseberries by forming leaf galls. The 
leaves are stunted, tightly curled and soon die. Very little fruit is produced and it is 
inferior in quality. The gall gives rise to a witch’s broom by the formation of num¬ 
erous abnormal shoots. The insect overwinters as an egg on the canes. The eggs 
begin hatching early in April. The first winged generation appears about the middle 
of May and migration takes place. They become re-established on the gooseberry 
and several wingless generations are found here during the summer and autumn. 
A second winged generation is produced in late October and the eggs are deposited a 
little later on gooseberry. This insect may have an alternate food plant but is able to 
survive normally on gooseberry alone. 
Various workers in several of the eastern states have reported the 
Houghton Gooseberry Aphis since its description in 1909, as an insect 
affecting gooseberries. Very little data has been given however in 
regard to the degree of injury and its effects upon the plant. Also 
certain rather interesting and important phases of the life-cycle have 
not been previously reported. 
Attention was called to this problem some months ago when a grower 
made inquiry regarding the best control measure for this pest. His. 
inquiry was accompanied by the statement that he owned a five acre 
planting of Houghton gooseberries in western Ohio which was so severely 
injured or destroyed by this aphid that a commercial crop of fruit 
could not be produced and it would be necessary to remove these canes 
if an adequate control measure could not be found. Upon investigation 
this insect was found to be causing severe injury to small as well as. 
larger plantings and a study of its life cycle and injury were undertaken. 
