14 



which is scarcely probable — we could not suggest a better remedy than that given for the 

 preceding species, namely, hand picking. 



THE GRAPE SEED INSECT. {Isosoma Vitis, Saunders.) 



This insect, which was fully described in the report of the Entomological Society for 

 1870, has not, as far as we have been able to ascertain, affected the grape to any extent in 

 Canada during the past year. It seems, however, to be much more widely distributed than 

 we at first supposed. During the latter part of August, we spent a few days at Dubuque. 

 Iowa, and while there paid a visit to the market, where there were offered for sale large 

 quantities of a species of wild grape, which was fully ripe at that early period in the .season, 

 and which, we were told, was much used for wine making. On opening the seeds of these 

 grapes we found a large proportion inhabited by the larvae of this insect, a small, fat white 

 Fio. 6. grub. . See figure 6, where it is shown much magnified. An outline ot 



the little creature of the natural size is given below. The larvae at that 

 time were more than two-thirds grown. 



For the benefit of those who may not have access to the report for 

 1870, we give a figure also of a perfect fly, almost identical in appear- 

 ance with that from which this larva is produced, and well serves the purpose of illustrating 



Fio. 7. 



it. See figure 7. a Represents the female ; c and e, her antenna; and abdomen ; h, d, and / 

 give similar details of the male. The larva lives within the seed, and consumes the kernel 

 during the summer ; undergoes its change to chrysalis also within the seed, and eats its way 

 out of it in the early part of the summer following, when in the perfect or winged state. 



No. 20. A CUTWORM. (Agrotis—?) 



This destructive pest, which is referred to at length in this report, when treating of the 

 insects affecting the strawberry, has also proved very destructive to the vine. For details of 

 the history and habits of this insect, the reader is referred to No. 7, Injurious to the straw- 

 berry. 



