190 



Goodwin (W. H.). The Control of the Grape Berry Worm {Polychrosis 

 viteana, Clem.). — Jl. Econ. Entom., Concord, ix, no. 1, February 

 1916, pp. 91-106. 



Polychrosis viteana in Ohio passes the winter in the pupal stage 

 within a cocoon formed inside a folded leaf. The leaves are either on 

 the surface of the soil or are partly buried and are always moist. 

 The pupal cases frequently become detached and are carried of? by 

 snow or heavy rain. Several vineyards are known to have been freed 

 from this insect for a season by winter flooding. A low temperature 

 and dry soil increases the mortahty among the pupae. Adults emerge 

 during the first week in June, when the vines are in blossom. In 

 confinement, eggs are laid from four to seven days after emergence, 

 but some individuals remain for a longer period before oviposition 

 begins. Adults of this brood live from 10 to 17 days, thus giving an 

 extended egg-laying period. The larva webs together a cluster of 

 developing berries and feeds on the pulp until mature. Pupation 

 takes place in a cocoon formed on the young leaves. Adults appear 

 from the latter half of July to the middle of September, according to 

 the latitude. Moths emerging at the beginning of August commence 

 egg-laying in from three to five days and continue to do so for from 

 seven to eleven days, the eggs being glued to the stalk of the berry or 

 to the berry itself. The larvae develop during August and September, 

 webbing together the berries as they feed. The juice of abandoned 

 berries ferments and evaporates, so that ultimately only the shell is 

 left. 



Experimental work on the control of P. viteana was carried out at 

 intervals between 1907 and 1915, various insecticides, fungicides, 

 adhesive substances and different kinds of spraying apparatus being 

 tested. In 1907 and 1908, applications of spray were made just before 

 the grapes bloomed and again between 18th and 22nd June and 10th 

 and 15th July. Vines handsprayed with Bordeaux and laundry soap 

 gave the smallest percentage of infested fruit. In 1909, a spray 

 consisting of lime-sulphur (1 in 50) and 3 lb. lead arsenate was found 

 to defoliate the plants treated and also to destroy the fruit. The 

 experimental plots in 1913 were sprayed between 9th and 12th June, 

 18th and 21st June, and 18th and 21st July. The bulk of the moths 

 were found to emerge after the third application, this result indicating 

 that the final spray should have been given two or three weeks later. 

 Arsenate of lead with Bordeaux (2-3-50), and 1 lb. of soap, applied 

 at a pressure of 200 lb. gave the best results. The experiments of 1913 

 and 1914 showed that the spray applied before flowering and that 

 given five to eight days after blooming were of less value than a spray 

 applied in August. Some of the most satisfactory results were obtained 

 in vineyards which received only one thorough spraying in August 

 with 3 lb. powdered arsenate of lead in combination with 2-3-50 

 Bordeaux and 2 lb. soft soap. In 1915, a more extensive series of 

 experiments was undertaken in several districts in northern Ohio. 

 The collection of the moist leaves containing pupae, in the previous 

 autumn, resulted in a material reduction in the number of moths. 

 Ploughing in the latter part of May was also partly effective. In 

 the spraying tests, the best results were secured by heavy applications 

 of from 4 to 6 lb. lead arsenate paste in 50 gals. Bordeaux with 2 lb. 

 soft soap, made first in the week following flowering, and again six or 



