July, but as these beetles looked very young, and as there were still many grubs even in the trees, I doubt not but the time as given by Harris, August, is nearer the average. I can not say where the eggs are laid,-perhaps on the bark,-yet, as we know of other insects of the same family that lay their eggs in the burrows, it is to be feared that this beetle has the same habits. The little whitish grubs eat all through the tree, so that some trees I saw were perfectly riddled with these minute tunnels, which were no larger than a common knitting-needle. The larvæ, pupæ, and imago may all be found in these tunnels during the first days of July. The beetles, prairie-dog like, appeared to be peering from their concealment; nor does the comparison end there, for upon the least disturbance they would beat a hasty retreat into their burrows.

REMEDIES.

I regret that I can offer no positive cure for this evil. As they burrow all through the trunk, we can not cut them out and burn them, as we could were they confined to branches. As their eggs are probably laid in the burrows, we are not sure that we can prohibit their being laid. Our only hope seems to be to render the trees obnoxious to the beetles during the months of July and August, when they issue from the trees.

I would use coal oil solution or carbolic acid solution, on the trunks, as the danger of injuring the trees would be slight. It may be found that common soap, or better, whale oil soap in strongest solution, will prevent the beetles from returning to the trees after mating. The peach orchardists along our western coasts must needs be on the alert for this enemy the coming season, for, as Mr. Bidwell well says, it is probable that our insect pests will be more than ever active this coming season, and will find our orchards illy prepared to resist their attacks. Let all try, who have occasion for their use, the several remedies recommended above, and report as to their efficacy.

PLANT LICE.

Aphis mali, Fabr., A. cerrasi, Fabr. Family, Aphide. Sub-Order, Hemiptera. All our fruit men are familiar with the plant lice, as hardly a plant but suffers from the attack of some species. Yet, doubtless owing to the many natural enemies, and notwithstanding their wonderfully prolific tendencies, they are rarely very destructive. Sometimes they will attack a tree and seem to draw heavily upon its vitality, and the very next year not a single louse will be found on the tree. I have noticed this repeatedly.

NATURAL HISTORY.

These aphis, sometimes green, as is the case with the apple and rose aphis, and sometimes black, as seen in the species attacking the cherry, pass the winter as eggs. I speak of those left out of door. These hatch into females, which keep producing young, without any appearance of males, all summer through; so that the number of insects which may come from a single egg in a season is alarmingly prodigious. This may continue for eight or nine generations. But with the last brood in autumn there come forth true males and females. These pair and lay the eggs which are to produce the females in the succeeding spring. This kind of reproduction is not confined to plant lice. Other insects show the same peculiarity. In fact, it is a well demonstrated fact that drone bees are the product of unfertilized eggs. The two projecting

tubes from the posterior parts of the flask-shaped bodies of these lice are called nectaries, as there exudes there from a sweet substance. This sweet secretion attracts the ants, hence the reason that we usually see plants attacked by lice also covered with ants. The lice and ants seem to dwell together very amicably. In fact, there seems to be an affection, not disinterested, to be sure, between them, as the ants caress the lice in a very loving manner, and in case of disturbance are very eager in their efforts to protect and care for the lice.

REMEDIES.

Syringing the plants with tobacco water is sure destruction to these insects. If limbs of small trees are alone attacked, they may be dipped in the fluid. Whale oil soap solution, and even common soap suds are beneficial, while many gardeners think that frequent syringing with pure water is not without benefit.

It has been recommended to brush the eggs off of young trees and small plants in the spring with a hand brush,-advice I think of doubtful practicality.

I think that these insects, where they are exposed to our cold winters and to the host of lice destroyers, will never do great mischief; but in our greenhouses and on our house plants they have full chance to work their ruin. But in these cases tobacco water and tobacco smoke are effectual preventives, and where else can this article, tobacco, be so appropriately used as in the destruction of these miserable lice?

IMPORTED CURRANT BORER.

Egeria tipuliformis, Linn. Family, Egerida. Sub-Order, Lepidoptera.

In an official communication lately received from App. M. Smith, secretary of the Manistee horticultural society, I am desired to give information in reference to the currant borer. Upon examination, I find that this insect is working its blighting ravages in this vicinity; so it is not unlikely that it is widely distributed throughout our State. This being the case, the reply to the Manistee pomologists will be of general interest.

As will be noticed, this beautiful wasp-like moth belongs to the same family and genus as the peach borer. The moths of this family may be readily told by their trim form, quick movements, diurnal habits, flying in the hot sunshine, and especially by the brush-like character of the tip of the body. This last character will serve to distinguish them from the wasps,-an important fact, as even entomologists of considerable experience are liable to be deceived, so striking is the resemblance. The larvae of the family, so far as I know, are without exception borers. They are white with a brownish head, and generally pupate in a cocoon made of their own chips or dust.

This Egerian, as will be noticed by the name, is imported, and, as is generally true, is all the worse from that fact. As a rule the imported species are the most destructive.

DESCRIPTION AND NATURAL HISTORY.

The moth is a little less than one-half inch long, and expands three-fourths of an inch. The color is deep blue, with three yellow bands across the abdomen, a yellow collar, and yellow mixed with blue marking the legs. These yellow bands, so like the same in many of our wasps, renders this species all the more liable to be mistaken, especially as they mingle with the wasps,

making a gay company in the bright sunshine. Yet the tufted extremity, in lieu of a pointed one tipped with a dreaded spear, will quickly undeceive us. These moths appear in June and July. I found several specimens yesterday, June 22. They deposit their eggs near a bud, at which work they seem very busily engaged during the heat of the day. These eggs soon hatch, and the tiny caterpillar at once bores to the center of the stem. What more strange than that this minute larva, almost microscopic, can thus perforate the hard, woody stem! These larvæ may be found in the stem from June to July the following year. I have taken the moth from the bushes with my net, and the nearly full-grown larvæ from the hollow stem the same day, June 22.

A curious example of wise foresight is afforded by these larvæ in their eating through the hard wood and bark before assuming the pupa state, as without such forecast and action the hollow stem would be a fatal dungeon to the moth, whose slender sucking tube and wanting jaws would render her escape hopeless.

În May, June, and July the insect becomes a pupa, the pupa always lying very near the outside opening, in a poor apology of a cocoon, if any, made of its own leavings. That able entomologist, Rev. C. J. S. Bethune of Ontario, speaks of the chrysalid sleeping peacefully in this cavity while the bleak wintry winds howl among the branches. (See Entomological Report of Ontario for the year 1871.) Such a remark would be true only of the larva. In June and July the moths again appear.

These insects seem to attack the red currant more generally, yet the black variety, and even the gooseberry is not exempt from its blasting work. Not only do the broken stems, so weakened as to be unable to stand upright, but also the sickly appearance of the foliage tell of this insect's presence and work. Bending the stocks will also generally give the needed information, as the affected ones bend more readily. The hollows in stocks cut across will inform us of their previous or present work.

REMEDIES.

It has been suggested that we catch the moths. I think this is not a practical remedy. The moths are so small, so quick, so wasp-like, that I should despair of this ever becoming generally practiced. I would suggest letting the bushes sprout up pretty freely, and then each spring practice heavy pruning, taking pains to cut and burn the feeble and limber stocks. This should be done about May 20; if later, some of the earlier moths might escape, if earlier, the pruner could not discriminate so wisely between healthy and diseased stems

IMPORTED GOOSEBERRY SAW-FLY.

Nematus ventricosus, Klug. Family, Tenthredinida. Sub-Order, Hymenoptera. This destructive insect, which has finally become scattered all over our State, is also a foreigner,-another of the many bequests from the old world which we would have gladly foregone. In view of the fact that we have received very many of our worst insect pests from Europe, they ought not to complain if we have given them Phylloxera or if we still add Doryphora, which they essay to prevent by laws prohibiting the importation of the potato. As well attempt to prevent the importation of rats by an interdict on the importation of seed packages. This gooseberry (or currant) slug is a fearful devastator, often com

pletely defoliating the bushes the first year that it appears. Although only about fifteen years among us, still it is already broadly distributed throughout our State.

NATURAL HISTORY.

The yellow female saw-fly (Fig. 37, b), about the size of the house-fly, with FIG. 37.

black head, meets the smaller male (Fig. 37, a), which has more black, and commences laying her whitish transparent eggs along the veins underneath the leaf, about the first of May. These hatch in three or four days, and the green twenty-legged "worms" (Fig. 38, a), dotted with black until the last moult, when they are entirely green, commence immediately to feed on the leaves. These larvæ eat voraciously, and soon become full grown, being then three-fourths of an inch long. These larvæ either go into the earth, under leaves, or remain attached to the bushes and spin a cocoon of brownish silk. The larvæ will be found at work till in July. They remain as pupæ till the following spring, when the flies come forth to repeat the round of mischief.

REMEDIES.

Prevention being universally conceded to be better than cure, all should be certain not to import these insects in procuring the plants. As the cocoons are hid in spring among the roots, these should be carefully washed and the material washed off burned. The absence of such precautionary measures accounts for the rapid spread of these pests.

FIG. 38.

The leaves when first worked on are perforated with small holes (Fig. 38). As there are comparatively few, the eggs being so compactly placed that but few leaves receive them, they can be gathered and burned. But if we have failed, either through ignorance or neglect, to destroy these destroyers till they become scattered over the bushes, we still can offer effectual battle. White hellebore, dusted upon the vine in the same manner that we would recommend for applying the Paris green mixture on the potato, is sure destruction to these "worms." This is best applied when there is little or no wind; and, though poisonous, is entirely safe if used cautiously. If it is preferred, as in most cases it doubtless will be, the hellebore may be mixed with water and applied with a sprinkler, in which case we are independent of wind and can not inhale it. An ounce to a pail of water is sufficient. As it costs but forty cents per pound, it will be seen that it is not expensive.

The fruit will receive so slight an amount of the hellebore that no fear need be entertained in using it,-in fact the first rain will wash it off,-and if any are afraid, they can easily rinse the fruit before using it. It has long been used in Europe, and no harm is reported.

Elder Potter of Lansing states that dusting the bushes with ashes kills the insects, while Wm. M. Clark of the same city gives like evidence as to soapsuds. Still, neither of these can take the place of the hellebore, which, if a good article, will prove effective every time, by whomsoever used; which is not the case with either of the other substances.

THE CURRANT MEASURING WORM.

Abraxis ribearia, Fitch. Family, Phalanida. Sub-Order, Lepidoptera.

This insect has caused so little damage in our State that until last year I have never heard of it as doing injury among us. Last season I received the moths from several localities, in some of which the larvæ did considerable damage. I have taken the moth at Lansing for several years, and have seen the larvæ working on the wild bushes, gooseberry and currant, but have never met it in our gardens.

NATURAL HISTORY.

This species exist during the winter as eggs. Late in May the larvæ appear,

FIG. 39.

which are white, striped with yellow, and dotted with black (Fig. 39), and can easily be told by the same peculiarity noted in the canker worm,-the habit of measuring (1, Fig. 39), or looping, when they move, and dropping (2, Fig. 39) by a thread when disturbed. By the last of June they are full grown, and measure a little more than an inch in length. The larvæ pass into the earth to pupate, and a little beneath the surface change to a brown chrysalis about one-half of an inch long (3, Fig. 39). In about two weeks the moths appear. These are of a pale yellowish color, with more or less dusky spots on the wings, which frequently form a band across the wings. Sometimes the dusky spots are slight. The moths (Fig 40), expand 14 inches. The moths lay their eggs along the twigs, where they remain, despite the heat and cold, till another spring.

REMEDIES.

The moths can be caught in a net; and though this is easily done, still it is not as practical a remedy as the hellebore, which by many is reported to be as efficient as with the saw-fly larvæ. As it was reported a failure during the past season by several persons, I can but think that the hellebore was not the genuine article, or else was very poor.