33 



or is more dreaded than this native American species, which has caused 

 enormous losses to the vine-growers and almost destroyed the chief in- 

 dustry of many large districts in France, Spain, Portugal and other coun- 

 tries. Volumes have been written describing its history, habits, distri- 

 bution and the remedies that have been tried for its control. Millions 

 of dollars would not cover the losses it has entailed. Now, happily, it 

 has ceased to be a serious pest, though it has by no means been exter- 

 minated. Relief was obtained in Europe by grafting their own varieties 

 on American stocks which are able to resist the attacks of this insidious 

 foe. 



The insect has two forms, one living underground and attacking the 

 roots, producing swellings or galls, which cause rotting and death of the 

 roots, and therefore the loss *of the whole vine ; the other form attacks 

 the leaves, covering them with small galls and causing their destruction. 

 The life-history of the insect is a very remarkable one and may be found 

 in most works on Economic Entomology ; to fully describe it here would 

 occupy more space than is available, and seems hardly to be necessarv. 

 The figure will serve for the recognition of the gall. The root-infest- 

 ing form can be overcome by the use of bisulphide of carbon, but the 

 better plan is to grow the resistent stocks on which the choicer varieties 

 may be grafted. 



Fig. 49. — Grape-berry moth (magnified), caterpillar and affected fruit. 



The Grape-Berry Moth (Eudemis botranaj, Fig. 49. When the 

 grapes are approaching maturity, discolored berries here and there on 

 the bunches may be noticed, and if carefully examined will be found io 

 be inhabited by a small whitish-green larva, which feeds upon the pulp. 

 After consuming the contents of one berry the worm attacks others and 

 draws them together with silken threads mixed with its castings, this 

 producing an offensive mass and greatly injuring* the value of the whole 

 bunch. When full grown it makes a case out of a portion of a leaf that 

 it cuts for the purpose, and there passes through the chrysalis stage. 

 The tiny moth is slate-blue in color with red-brown markings on the fore 

 wings. The winter, so far as known, is spent in the chrysalis stage, and 

 therefore the insect may be destroyed by burning the leaves in the 



3 BULL. 158 



