404 



FBUIT INSECTS 



The beetles hibernate under trash, in grass land around the 

 edge of the vineyards and are sometimes found under loose bark 

 at the base of the vine. They emerge from hibernation in April 

 or in May in New York just as the grape l)uds are swelUng. 



Fig. 348. — Eggs of the grape-vine flea-b;n'tle uiuler astrii) of loose l)ark (Xl2). 



They soon find their way to the nearest vine and feed voraciously 

 on the tender heart of the bursting buds, which they reach by 

 gnawing through the protective covering either at the side or 

 more commonly at the tips. The beetles do most of their feed- 

 ing during the 

 warmer part of 

 l)right sunny days; 

 on cold cloudy 

 days they hide 

 away under any 

 convenient shelter. 

 Each beetle may 

 destroy several 

 buds and thus 

 cause a loss of fruit 

 and foliage all out of proportion to the amount of tissue ac- 

 tually consumed. 



After feeding for several days the females begin to deposit 

 their elongate, oval, straw-colored eggs, 3^0 inch in length, beneath 



Fig. 349. — Grubs of the grape-vine Ilea- beetle (.X7). 



