m 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE. 



ADDENDA TO REPOKTS FOR 1870-71. 



BY W. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONTARIO. 



No. 17. The Rose beetle, Macrodadylus 

 sithjiinosus, Fab. 

 18. The Achemon Sphinx, Philampelus 

 achemvH, Drury. 



No. 19. The Abbot Sphinx, Thyreu^ 

 Ablotii, Swainson. 

 The Grape Seed Insect, 

 Isosoma ritis Saunders. 

 20. A Cutworm, Agrotis — ? 



In addition to the insects already referred to as injurious to the grape in Ontario in the 

 Kntomological Reports for 1870 and 1871, we have the following to submit to our reader?. 



No. 17. THE ROSE BEETLE {Macrodadylus Suhpimsvs, Fab). 



This insect commonly known as the Rose-bug, which for some years past has been re- 

 ported as doing damage to grape vines in the United States, has always been present with us ; 

 but it has not, heretofore, as far as we know, been much complained of by grape growers in 

 any part of Ontario. In the latter part of May, 1872, we received a note from Mr. John 

 Ferguson, of Union, near Port Stanley, Ont., accompanied by a box of these insects, asking 

 for information as to what he should do to get rid of them as they were destroying his grape 

 vines. In a subsequent note he says, •' they eat the loaves especially t.f the Clinton. I found 

 a few on my Concords, but the number was small in comparison to those found on the 

 Clinton ; they seem to prefer it, and if left alone, they soon eat all the outer tissue of the 

 leaf, and leave nothing but the net- work." 



The fact of this insect .showing a preference for the Clinton vine has been remarked 

 before by the late Mr. Benj. D. Walsh, State Entomologist of Illinois, who suggested the 

 taking advantage of this preference on the part of the insect, as a means of lessening the 

 kbour attending their destruction. In his first annual report on the " Noxious Insects of 

 Illinois", page 24, he says " In particular seasons, as is well known, and in particular locali- 

 ties this insect occurs in prodigious swarms, and gathers upon grape vines so as to strip 

 them almost entirely of their leaves. The only known remedy that is practically available, 

 k to jar them off the vines and kill them ; and of course if we can induce them to concen- 

 trate their forces upon one particular vine, and leave the rest alone, the labour of destroying 

 them will be very greatly diminished." ' 



Luckily for the grape grower this can be done. There is concurrent evidence from a 

 great number of different sources, that the Ro.?e-bug prefers the Clinton to all other culti- 

 vated varieties, and will gather upon that and leave the others unmolested. 



In the Canada Farmer i'or 1867, page 327, the Ro.«e Beetle is referred to as occasiouallj 

 injurious to the vine, as well as many other shrubs and trees, and mention is made of itg 

 great abundance every year in one locality at Oakville ; it is also epoken of in Harris' •' In- 

 sects Injurious to Vegetation" as hurtful to the vine. 



