The Grape Koot-Wokm. 33 



eggs ; one of these was Fidiobia fiavis Aslimead, a Platygaster, and 

 the other a Trichogranmiid named B raohysticJta jidioi by Ashniead. 



Webster stated in 1866 that the ravages of the pest seemed to be 

 on the decline in Ohio, and he then thought it due to the increase 

 in numbers of the enemies of the eo^^s. The little Trichoo:rammid 

 parasite had increased enormously in the preceding two years and 

 he also found another mitQ .{Jdeterojms ventricosus) eating the eggs. 

 In 1899, however, Mr. AVebster found the pest unusually abundant 

 in the infested localities in Ohio, and he stated that " the injury 

 from last year's grubs was very serious despite the increase in influ- 

 ence that we had hoped for from the two Qg^ parasites." 



AVe hope that some or all of these enemies of this pest are at 

 work in Xew York, but apparently there is little hope that they 

 will keep it in check. 



Remedial Measures. 



The fact that this grape root-worm may injure the vine as a beetle 

 attacking the leaves, and also as a grub feeding on the roots, makes 

 it a serious menace to grape-growing. And it becomes a still more 

 serious matter when we learn that no thoroughly satisfactory method 

 of controlling the insect has been found in Ohio after several years of 

 experience with the best remedial measures which could be devised. 



There are good grounds for believing that if the soil is kept in a 

 loose and well pulverized condition and banked up slightly toward 

 the row, thus covering the roots more deeply with light soil that 

 will not crack, many of the newly hatched grubs will be unable to 

 reach the roots that would otherwise do so. This method will not 

 constitute a full protection from attack, but it will help very mate- 

 rially in the warfare. Keejj the soil about the base of the vines 

 finely p'ldverized by frequent cultivation and cover the roots deeper 

 during the period of egg-hatching or during the month of July. 

 '' Whatever management will tend to cause the roots to grow deep 

 in the soil, and prevent the growth of roots near the surface, will 

 also tend to ward off attack on the same principle as the mound- 

 ing,*' says Webster. 



The precautionary habit of the beetles of dropping quickly to the 

 ground and " playing possum" when the vine is unnaturally dis- 

 turbed as by sudden jarring, offers a vulnerable point of attack. 

 3 



