8o THE GRAPES OF NEW YORK. 



flea-beetle,' the grape leaf-hopper'' and the grape berry moth.^ The 

 several fungal diseases found in this region are, about in order of importance. 



in the cracks and crevices of the bark of the grape vines well above ground. The eggs are produced 

 in large numbers, often as many as several hundred to the vine. Upon hatching, the larvae quickly 

 worm their way into the ground and begin to feed upon the fibrous roots of the \'ine, passing from 

 these to the larger roots. Possibly the chief damage is done on the larger roots which are often entirely 

 stripped of bark for a length of several feet. The larvae attain their full size, a half inch in length, 

 by the middle of August, and then hibernate until the following June. The winter is spent in 

 earthen cells. After about two weeks as pupae in June, the full grown beetles emerge from the 

 ground and begin to feed upon the upper surface of the leaves, eating out the cellular tissue, thus 

 skeletonizing the foliage. The adults disappear the succeeding August. The most efficient means of 

 checking the fidia so far found is an application of an arsenical spray applied during the time the 

 beetles are feeding on the foliage. 



'Grape-vine flea-beetle {Haltica chalybca 111.). — The adult insects are shining steel-blue flea- 

 beetles measuring about one-fifth of an inch in length. They live during the winter under the bark 

 of the old vines or in rubbish in the fields. They emerge from their winter quarters during the first 

 warm days of spring, and feed upon the opening buds and young leaves. Egg-laying begins late in 

 April or early in May. The eggs are placed singly near the buds or upon the leaves and hatch m 

 about ten days. The young larvae are dark brown in color but soon become prominently marked 

 ■with black dots and patches. They are full grown in from three to four weeks at which time they 

 measure about a quarter of an inch in length. They feed on the leaves devouring only the soft parts 

 at first, but finally eating irregular holes through the leaves. When ready to pupate they go a short 

 distance into the ground. Tlie adults emerge during the latter part of June or early in July. They 

 probably feed during all of the summer, finally seeking shelter for the winter as above indicated. 



The vines shou'd be sprayed with paris green, one pound to fifty gallons of water, just before 

 the buds begin to swell or with some other arsenite. Much pains should be taken to make this 

 application thorough. Later when the worms appear on the leaves, paris green may be applied at 

 the usual strength, one pound to 150 gallons of lime and water, or combined with bordeaux mi.\ture_ 

 Both upper and under surfaces of the leaves should be covered. Applications of arsenicals for the 

 grape-vine fidia will help greatly to keep this insect in check. 



^ Grape leaf-hopper (Typhlocyba comes Say). — There are several species of leaf-hoppers which 

 attack the grape but this species is probably the most common in this State. These little leaf-hoppers 

 are often erroneously called thrips. The adult insects measure about one-eighth of an inch in length. 

 They vary gre-atly in color but the prevaihng color is usually light yellowish-green. The back and 

 wings are ornamented with bright red, yellow and brown. They are found upon the vines from 

 spring until fall. They feed together, sucking the sap from the leaves, principally from the under 

 surface, causing them to turn brown in patches. The eggs are deposited singly in the tissue of the 

 under surface of the leaves. The young resemble the adults in form but are not provided with 

 wings and are green or yellowish-green in color. There are several broods during the season. Some 

 of the adults of the last brood hibernate in any convenient rubbish about the vineyard. Treat- 

 ment for young hoppers should be made early in July. To obtain the best results use whale-oil soap 

 at the rate of one pound to ten gallons of water, directing the spraying with the hand. Vinevards 

 and adjacent land should be kept as free as possible from grass and weeds as they afford shelter to 

 the insect. 



' Grape berry moth (Polychrosis viteana Clem.). — The young caterpillars feed w-ithin the grapes 

 finally causing them to turn dark colored and to wither. This injury is sometimes mistaken for che 



