99 



that tree. Another manner of holding them in check is by jarring 

 them upon curculio-catchers, which can be constructed b}^ means of 

 a sheet stretched and held taut on a frame. If this catcher is saturated 

 with kerosene such insects as come in contact with it will die. As to 

 the success of these remedies, Mr. Hunter, writing of the Texas species, 

 states that it was easily destroyed b}" hand-picking, as the beetles were 

 not readily disturbed, while Mr. Nash, writing of Say's blister beetle, 

 states that arsenicals could not be applied owing to the danger of 

 killing bees.— F. H. C. 



NOTES ON VINE-CHAFERS. 



Recent years have witnessed considerable injury locally and, as 

 usual, periodically to grapevine and the foliage and blossoms of vari- 

 ous fruit trees by some species of beetles of the genus Anomala. Of 

 the dozen described forms of this genus, four are known to affect the 

 grape; hence the name of vine-chafer, which is rather commonly 

 bestowed on them. 



Anoma la undulata M els. — This, one of 

 the commonest species, has been reported 

 during the last two years at Gadsden, Ala., 

 and Tazewell, Tenn. In the first localit}^ 

 the beetles were first noticed by Mr. C. W. 

 Ewing, April 10 at sunset, flying in great 

 numbers from a valley below and settling 

 on peach trees, where they ate both blos- 

 soms and leaves. In the latter locality, 

 Mr. H. Y. Hughes observed the l^eetles 

 destroying buds, l)loom, and 3'oung fruit 

 of cherry. In earlier years we have re- 

 corded the occurrence of this species as 

 injurious to the l)lossoms of grape, apple, and pear at Grand Bay, 

 Ala., and to grape at Greenville, S. C. 



The life history of this species is in some respects like that of the 

 common rose chafer, which is treated in Circular No. 11 of this Divi- 

 sion. The beetle, however, is quite different in appearance. It is 

 shown in fig. 7. The color is shining pale yellow, with the thorax 

 mostly black, and the el3'tra or wing covers spotted with black, much 

 as illustrated, the pattern, however, being quite variable. 



Anoinala maj:jgjjjaM Fab. — This, the margined vine-chafer has been 

 quite clesHructive recently at Carterton, Va. Dr. E. K, Harding 

 reports that it occurred in June, 1900, about the middle of the month, 

 and did considerable damage to cherry and Japan walnut, but did not 

 trouble the vine. Many holes were found in the earth under the trees, 

 and when the beetles were shaken off they disappeared into the ground, 

 an occurrence which led our correspondent to infer that eggs might 

 be deposited in the earth from which the larvae would hatch. This is 



Fig. 7.— Anomala undulata: beetle, 

 four times natural size (original). 



