163 



HoLLiNGER (A. H.). Phenacoccus stachyos, Ehr. (= P. pettiti, Hollin- 

 ger.) — Canadian Entomologist, London, Out., \, no. 1, January 

 1918, pp. 23-24. 



The author draws attention to the fact that the mealy bug from 

 Missouri, described by him as new under the name Phenacoccus pettiti 

 [see this Review Ser. A, v, p. 470] proves to have been pre\aously 

 described. 



Hartzell (F. Z.). The Grape Root- worm. — New York Agric. Expt. 

 Sta., Geneva, Circ. no. 41, 21st June 1915, 6 pp., 2 plates, 4 figs. 

 [Received 11th February 1918.] 



The larva of the Chrysomelid beetle, Fidia viticida, Walsh, is one 

 of the most injurious pests in the Chautauqua and Erie Grape Belt,, 

 where in some years it has caused a loss of more than £100, (X»0. 

 During July and August, each female lays about 175 minute yellow 

 eggs under the rough bark of the canes and older wood, after which 

 they die, though individuals have been found as late as the first week 

 in September. The larvae, which hatch in August, drop from the 

 vines and burrow into the soil till they reach the roots, on which 

 they begin to feed, attacking first the rootlets and then the larger 

 roots, into which they eat channels, even girdling them. At the end 

 of October they burrow to a depth of from 10-24 inches into the soil 

 and form cells in which they hibernate imtil May, when they again 

 begin feeding on the roots. Early in June the full-grown larvae form 

 cells 4-10 inches beneath the surface of the soil, the depth being largely 

 influenced by moisture conditions, and enter the pupal stage from 

 10th to 15th June. The adults, which emerge after 10-14 days, feed 

 by tearing the upper tissues of the leaves. 



Remedial measures must be directed against the pupae or adults, 

 all attempts to kill the larvae in the soil, or before entering it, having 

 proved impracticable. The pupae may be destroyed by forming a 

 low ridge underneath the vines during the last cultivation of summer 

 and remo\nng it next spring by means of an implement called a horse- 

 shoe, thus crushing the puj^ae or breaking the cells, when the pupae 

 are killed by the air and sunlight. This operation, which entails no 

 additional expense, is an effective measure, though some of the deeper 

 pupae will escape destruction. 



Sprapng with arsenicals to destroy the adults before oviposition 

 has yielded the best results, but this spray acts only as a repellent 

 unless mixed with molasses to attract the beetles. Therefore in 

 practice, if the beetles are numerous, a spray of lead arsenate 6 lb., 

 molasses 1 U.S. gal., and Avater 100 U.S. gals., should be applied, care 

 being taken not to do this just before rain, a second application of 

 lead arsenate 6 lb. and Bordeaux mixture (88-100) being given a week 

 later. The length of time between sprayings must depend on the 

 temperature, rainfall, the amoimt of new growth and the feeding of 

 the beetles. The cumulative effect of this treatment is very marked 

 after a few years, serious infestations of root worm rarely occurring 

 in vineyards where it has been followed. 



