TT. S. D. A., B. K. Riil. r„S, Part VIII. D. I". I. I., .Imni.ir.v 20, 1000, 



PAPERS ON DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES. 



THE GRAPE-LEAF SKELETONIZER. 



( lliiirixiun inncricdiKt (JiK'riii-.Mriicv illc. ) 



Ity r. II. .To.NK.s, 

 Kniinncd in /)( cid iidiis I 'mil I used I iircslii/dlions. 



INTRODUCTION. 



P^or the last sixty years or more tlie species known as Ilurrislna 

 americana has been brought to the attention of entomolo<»:i.sts and 

 vineyardists by the characteristic feedinuf of the yelh)wish, bhick- 

 spotted larva) in soldierlike rows upon the foliage of the grape. As 

 this is the only Lepidopterous insect that feeds in a gregarious man- 

 ner upon grape foliage it will be easily recognized. Although it has 

 been known for a number of years, many jjoints have been lacking 

 in the knowledge of its life history and habits, and it is hoped that 

 the following pages will present some facts that hitherto have not 

 been mentioned, as well as give a sinnmary of what has been learned 

 about the insect up to the present time. 



HISTORY. 



There is considerable doubt as to where this insect was first figured 

 and described. In Ct. Henderson's edition of the Animal Kingdom 

 it is figured by Baron Cuvier (ls:'>T) under the name Ayloape ameri- 

 cana Boisduval, but no descri^jtion is given. A description and 

 figure are published by Guerin-Meneville, the insect being listed as 

 Agloape americana Boisduval. The dates of issue in the latter case 

 (1829-1838) are evidently erroneous, as there are in the volume fre- 

 quent references to articles published in 1840, 1841, and some as late 

 as 1843; the volume w^as, therefore, probably not issued before 1844 

 or 1845. Harris, in 18:)i), described the species as Procris americana 

 and figured its various stages. This appears to be the first pul)lished 



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