GRAPEVINE ROOT WORM 



Fidia viticida Walsh 



Ord. Coleoptera: Fam. Chrj/somelidae 



INTRODUCTION 



The vinejardists in the Chautauqua grape belt are confronted 

 by a serious condition in the presence of the above named insect. 

 This pest has in recent years caused enormous damages in the 

 Ohio grape belt and is now established in large numbers in the 

 vicinity of Ripley N. Y. and has obtained a foothold over a 

 large area. Messrs Walter Northrop and F. A. Morehouse 

 estimated last spring that over 80 acres of magnificent vine- 

 yards had already been destroyed in the vicinity of Ripley. We 

 consider this insect a much more serious enemy of the vine- 

 yardist than the grapevine leaf hopper, the work of which has 

 been so apparent and destructive in the last two or three years. 

 The leaf hopper undoubtedly causes much mischief, but as its 

 •operations are confined to the leaves, the amount of damage is 

 easily seen and, when necessary, steps may be taken to control 

 the pest. The root worm, on the other hand, inflicts its most 

 serious injuries under ground where its operations can not be 

 readily observed, and in a great many instances a vine is nearly 

 ruined before the grower notices any trouble. The secrecy of 

 this insect's work and the fact that the grubs operate on the 

 large roots, where a small amount of girdling is fatal, consti- 

 tute the most dangerous features of this pest. 



The vineyardists of the Chautauqua grape belt should be 

 thankful for the very wet season just past, because it has un- 

 doubtedly enabled the vines to recuperate to a considerable 

 extent from previous injuries and has also prevented serious 

 damage by the root worms in 1902. 



Area infested. Ripley appears to be the center of this insect's 

 most destructive work, though it has been found generally 

 present in small numbers in many vineyards where little evi- 



