422 



FRUIT INSECTS 



Control. 



Where sulfuring is practiced for the control of the fungous 

 disease known as oidium or powdery mildew, the mites rarely 

 cause trouble. In severe infestations it is sometimes advisable 

 to destroy the hibernating mites on the stump by pouring over 

 it about a quart of boiling water during the dormant season. 



References 



Landois, Zeitseh. f. wiss. Zool. XIV, pp. 353-364. 

 Mayet, Insectes de la Vigne, pp. 1-14. 1890. 



1864. 



The Grape Plume-moth 



Oxyptilus periscelidactylus Fitch 



The terminal leaves of the growing shoots of the vine are some- 

 times webbed together (Fig. 364) by a small greenish white- 

 haired caterpillar, the 

 larva of a beautiful 

 plume-moth. The 

 moths have an ex- 

 panse of about seven 

 tenths of an inch, yel- 

 lowish-brown in color 

 and marked with 

 many dull whitish 

 spots and streaks ; the 

 front wings are deeply 

 cleft into two lobes and the hind wings divided into three 

 lobes (Fig. 363). The entire wing margin is bordered with a 

 long whitish or brownish fringe. 



The eggs have not been observed. The caterpillars feed on 

 the webbed leaves at the tip of the young shoots and are said 

 to infest the blossom clusters, but have never been abundant 



Fig. 363, — The grape plume-moth (x 3). 



