LETTERS, NOTES AND QUERIES

Last Autumn I was given some red currant cuttings for my allotment and during this May some leaves on the bush produced some large red blisters. I expected it to be some sort of gall but on research I found they are caused by an aphid Cryptomyzus ribis. On checking the undersides of the leaves I did find some small aphids which were a pale yellow colour. They feed on the sap in the leaves but I don’t really think they will do any serious damage. They are I am told active between leaf and bud burst up until mid June. After that they produce wings and migrate to Hedge Woundwort, Stachys sylvatica, of which there are some colonies in the nearby hedgerow. There is then a return migration to the dormant bushes in the autumn when overwintering eggs are laid on the stems. Other aphids identified on another allotment plot nearby this year are Willow bark aphids Tuberolachnus salignus and again I see no harm in having them there as they do not look to be detrimental to the tree.

I should be interested to hear from members how common both species are in Suffolk gardens, whether any effects on yield of redcurrants have been noted, and also how big the population of the Willow bark aphid is either on wild willow or garden species.

Colin Jacobs
The Railway House
Linear Park
Lowestoft
Suffolk

A couple of years ago when working in the garden I heard a high-pitched squeaking. As it continued I decided to investigate, and tracked the sound to a small toad dangling about two inches above the ground in the netting of the fruit cage, all four legs waving in the air.

I assume he had started to climb through the netting when standing on some greenery that had given way under him. I did not know that toads could squeak, but it was lucky for him that he did as I was able to help him down and off he went promising to eat lots of slugs for me!

Pat Shott
Bury St Edmunds