ECOlsrOMIC ZOOLOGY — ENTOMOLOGY. 165 



briefly reported. It is concluded that Musca domestica does not as a rule trans- 

 fer this virus by way of the alimentary canal or otherwise. 



Some observations on the eggs of the horse bot fl.y (Gastrophilus equi), 

 W. E. CoLLiNGE (Jour. Econ. BioL, 5 {1910), No. 1, pp. 9-17, figs. 3). — From the 

 observations here reported it is concluded that " the egg of G. equi is provided 

 with a pair of lip-lilie valves, by means of which it is firmly attached to the 

 hair. After the larva has escaped the egg-shell adheres for some considerable 

 time to the hair. The eggs are not talvcn into the mouth as stated by Froggatt 

 [E. S. R., 20, p. 460]. My experiments confirm and supplement those of Osborn, 

 although the actual dates differ somewhat; thus the largest number of eggs 

 hatched from the sixteenth to the twentieth day, and none hatched after the 

 thirty-sixth day. Without moisture or friction very few eggs hatch." 



The grape root-worm with especial reference to investigations in the Erie 

 grape belt from 1907 to 1909, F. Johnson and A. G. Hammar {U. S. Dcpt. 

 Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 89, pp. 100, pis. 10, figs. 31).— This bulletin presents a 

 detailed report of studies of the grape root-worm {Fidia viticida) commenced 

 at North East, Pa., in the spring of 1907 and extending over a period of 3 

 years, the last 2 in cooperation with the Pennsylvania state department of 

 agriculture. A report of preliminary investigations has been previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 19, p. 1158). 



During the last 10 or 15 years this insect has attracted much attention on 

 account of its ravages in vineyards along the southern and eastern shores of 

 Lake Erie, comprising in general the grape growing territory of northern Ohio 

 and the Erie and Chautauqua grape belts of Pennsylvania and New Yorlj, 

 respectively. It was first described by Walsh in 1867, having been reported the 

 previous year as occurring in Kentuclvy in destructive numbers. The first 

 information relating to its early stages was furnished by Webster in 1894 

 (E. S. R., 8, p. 67). Up to the present time it has been recorded only from 

 North America, where it occurs in the Mississippi Valley and in the Eastern 

 States, and is undoubtedly a native species. It appears to have been observed 

 feeding upon wild grapes long before it was found to infest cultivated varie- 

 ties. In addition to wild grapes, it has been observed feeding upon red bud 

 and Virginia creeper, but has found a more available food plant in the 

 improved varieties of native grapes. It is said that attempts made during 

 the investigations to locate the larvae on roots of wild grapes failed, although 

 in breeding worlv larvse were reared to maturity thereon. 



The injury wrought by this pest on the grapevine occurs both above and 

 below the surface of the ground; however, by far the greater damage results 

 from its worli upon the roots. The appearance late in June or early in July 

 of chainlilie marliings upon the upper surface of the foliage is the first inti- 

 mation of the presence of the pest upon the vines. " Where the beetles are 

 very numerous, however, and the foliage sparse, it not infrequently happens 

 that the leaves are so badly scored that in a short time they take on a brown 

 appearance and hang about in shreds. ... It is, however, to the larvae of 

 this pest feeding upon the roots of the vines that the direct cause of the 

 injury and death of so many vines is due. The work of the larvae upon the 

 roots may be recognized, when the vines are removed from the soil, by the 

 absence of root fibers, by channels along the larger roots, and by pittings on the 

 main trunk." 



Brief descriptions are given of allied beetles and of those found upon grape- 

 vines, likely to be mistaken for this pest, together with technical descriptions 

 of its different stages. A detailed account of life-history studies involving 

 many experiments with numerous individuals is summarized as follows : " The 

 grape root-worm produces only one generation a year; the larva feeds on the 



