146 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



deposit eggs on the under side of the leaves, among their downy hairs, 

 beneath the loosened bark of the branches and trunk, or in crevices of the 

 ground about the base of the vine. The complete life history of this 

 insect, which is extremely interesting and curious, may be found in the 

 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Reports on the Insects of Missouri, by Prof. C. V. 

 Riley. 



The gall-inhabiting type of this insect may be subdued by picking off 

 the infested leaves and destroying them, but the root-inhabiting type is a 

 much more difllicult form to deal with. Various applications to the soil 

 have been recommended, such as bisulphide of carbon, and carbolic acid 

 diluted with water and poured into holes made in the soil about the roots; 

 soot, lime and ashes have also been suggested, strewed around the vines. 



Several species of predaceous insects prey on this louse. The larva 

 of a small fly, an undetermined species of Diplosis, deposits its eggs within 

 the gall, in which the larval and pupal stages are also passed. The larva 

 of this friendly species, although destitute of legs, is very active, and 

 groping about within the hollow of the gall, seizes on the young lice as 

 hatched and sucks them dry, I have found no evidence of its attacking 

 the parent lice, the newly born and tender progeny being more to its 

 taste, and in sufficient abundance to furnish it with a constant supply of 

 fresh food. In some instances one larva, in others two are found in a 

 single gall, but in no instance have I found living lice with the chrysalids, 

 an evidence that its beneficial work is completed before this change takes 

 place. An active mite, Tyroglyphiis phylloxera^ the larva of a Syrphus 

 fly, Pipiza radiauis, also the larva of a small dull-colored Lady-bird, a 

 species of Scyin?ius, all aid in keeping in subjection the root-inhabiting 

 form. 



Most of our American vines are much more vigorous than the Euro- 

 pean sorts, and hence are likely to endure the inroads of this insect much 

 better. As the insect is native to our country, our vines must have always 

 been subject more or less to its attacks, and hence probably have devel- 

 oped a hardier constitution, with greater capacity for endurance or resist- 

 ance. Last year I observed on some Concord vines evidences of 

 unhealthiness, which I now believe arose from the presence of Phylloxera ; 

 this season most of them seem to have recovered their natural vigor. This 

 inspires the hope that our vines may be able to endure the presence of this 

 pest without very serious injury or loss. 



During the month of July I received from Prof. J, A, Lintner, State 



