THE GRAPE-LEAF SKELETONIZER. 79 



The latest economic reference is that of J. li. Smith (1903), who 

 figures it as one of the insects sometimes troubling grapes. 



ORIGIN AND DISTRIBUTION. 



The grape-leaf skeletonizer is probably a native species, from the 

 fact that it feeds upon Virginia creeper and wild grapes in addition 

 to the domestic varieties of grape. Harris mentions it as related to 

 Procris aTnpelophaga^ of Europe, which is injurious to the vineyards 

 of Piedmont and Tuscany, and Kiley states that it is related to the 

 European Procris vitis. 



In literature it has been recorded from the following States and 

 Provinces: Canada (Bethune) ; New England (AValsh) ; New York 

 (Slingerland) : New Jersey (vSmith) ; Washington, D. C. (Glover) ; 

 North Carolina (Walsh) ; Georgia (Starnes) ; Florida (Neal) ; Ohio 

 (Lintner) : jNIissouri (Riley) ; and Arizona (Toumey). 



In the files of the Bureau of Entomology there are records as fol- 

 lows: Orange, N. J.; Dalton, Philadelphia, and Willianisport, Pa.; 

 Berwyn, Cambridge, Sharptown. and Sullivan, Md. ; Washington, 

 D. C. ; Afton. Va.; French Creek and Lewisburg, AV .Ya.; Raleigh, 

 N. C. ; Columbia and Timmonsville, S. C. ; Poulan, Ga. ; Jackson- 

 ville, Oakland, Stephensville, and Umatilla, Fla. ; Auburn, Ala.; 

 Masengale and Poplarville, Miss. ; Mandeville and New Orleans, La., 

 and Hermosillo. ^Mexico. 



FOOD PLANTS AND DESTRUCTIVENESS. 



Harris states that this species feeds verv readily upon Ampelops'is 

 quinquef olia ; Riley writes that its natural food is Yirginia creeper 

 and wild grapes: while botli record it as being fond of cultivated 

 grapes. Toumey states that it was found upon Vith anzonica^ and 

 Neal records it as living naturally upon wild grapes and Yirginia 

 creeper but that it prefers cultivated grapes, especiall}^ if exotic or 

 choice. Riley mentions that a Mr. Jordan, of St. Louis, ISIo., states 

 that it attacks Concords but never the Clinton or Tajdor varieties in 

 his vinej'ards. During the past sunnner the writer noticed that it was 

 especially fond of certain hothouse \arieties in an abandoned green- 

 house upon the Department grounds. 



CHARACTER OF INJURY. 



The young larva* during the first three or four instars feed only 

 on the outer epidermal layer of the leaf, completely skeletonizing it. 

 (See fig. 12.) This is done on both the upper and lower surfaces; 

 according to the writer's observation there is preference for the up- 



