87 
infested with the Currant-louse (Aphis ribis Linn.). These 
insects as shown elsewhere, imbibe the sap of plants, thus 
weakening them greatly if at all numerous. In some cases, as 
in the present one, they cause a distortion of the leaves 
in the form of discolored, bladder-like hollows, in which the 
lice are more or less protected. In extreme cases, these dis- 
tortions become almost true galls. The remedies given in the 
article on leaf-lice should be employed. 
We find not unfrequently peculiar thorny caterpillars defoli- 
ating the currants and gooseberries. in some cases they 
become decidedly numerous and cor- 
respondingly injurious. This us ually 
happens late in summer or when foli- 
age and flowers for the next season 
are being formed by the plants, in the 
shape of buds. Wherever these thorny 
caterpillars have been numerous or 
have denuded the canes of their foli- 
age, we Shall find that no fruit is pro- 
duced in the following season. The 
adult of this caterpillar is a very 
pretty butterfly, the Grapta butterfly 
(Grapta comma Harr.) illustrated in 
Fig. 48. 

Fig. 48, Currant-butterfly. 
Natural size. 
Still another insect is sometimes found upon these plants, 
and even a few insects of its character can cause considerable 
damage. The insect is the Four-lined 
Leaf-bug  (LPoecilocapsus lineatus Fab.). 
It is a true bug, or a sucking insect, as may 
be seen in Fig. 44. The adult insect is dis- 
tinguished by its bright orange-yellow 
color marked with four black stripes upon 
the dorsal surface. The earlier stages, 
Fig. 44. Four-linea iecluding the pupal stage, are all very 
Leat-bug. Orisi- —_ active and are rendered prominent by their 
vermillion-red color marked with black. 
This leaf-bug seems to prefer our numerous wild species of 
currants and gooseberries, and is as yet not found very fre- 
quently in our gardens. But where it is found at all, it causes 
considerable damage, as it injures, in all its stages, the most 

