CHAPTER XIII 

 GRAPE INSECTS 



The relative importance of the insect enemies of the grape 

 varies greatly from year to year in different regions of the 

 countrj^ In the eastern United States root worms are present 

 in injurious numbers only along the shores of Lake Erie, yet 

 Quaintance, in 1909, estimated the loss occasioned by them at 

 over two million dollars. 



The rose chafer is destructive only in sandy regions ; leaf- 

 hoppers are always present in most vineyards, but severe out- 

 breaks alternate with extended periods of relative immunity; 

 some whole sections are exempt from injury by the berry-moth, 

 while in others it often occasions serious loss and the blossom 

 midge has a very restricted range. Trelhsed vines are easily 

 sprayed, and this method of controlling cape insects is prac- 

 ticed by commercial vineyardists whenever practicable. 



The Rose Chafer 

 Macrodactylus subspinosus Fabricius 



About the time grapes are in blossom vineyards located in 

 sandy regions are often invaded by a hungry host of ungainly, 

 long-legged, grayish-brown beetles (Fig. 342) about an half inch 

 in length that first devour the blossom-buds and blossoms and 

 then attack the newly set fruit and the foliage (Figs. 343 and 

 344) . The rose chafer does not confine its attacks to the grape, 

 but also feeds on the blossoms of the apple, pear, plum, black- 

 berry, raspberry, strawberry and many other fruits; on the 



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