123 



Two Grape Pests in Alabama. 



I inclose some specimens of beetles and Hymeuoptera. Will you kindly inform me 

 ■what they are and how I can get rid of them, especially the beetles ? These perfor- 

 ate the leaves of my grape vines to such au extent that they have arrested their 

 growth aud have caused them to shed many of their leaves. What is the best remedy 

 for this evil ? Where are the eggs laid ? They have made their appearance here for 

 the first time to my knowledge. They do their mischief mostly at night, while the 

 Hymeuoptera are on the young canes during the day and suck the sap from them as 

 a mosquito draws the blood from an animal; they might be called vegetable mos- 

 quitoes. I catch and kill most of them, though they are cunning little fellows, and 

 dodge around the canes of the grape-vines, as a squirrel runs around a tree. The 

 beetles though are a great pest, and I fear they will greatly damage my grapes, if 

 they have not already done so. The nocturnal habits of this coleopteron give it every 

 opportunity to commit its depredations. — [William C. Avery, M. D., Greensboro, 

 Ala., June 25, 1890. 



Reply. — The beetles sent are specimens of the Grape vine Colaspis ( Colaspis flavida), 

 and belong, together with the Grape-vine Flea-beetle and the Grape-vine Fidia, to the 

 fam.ily Chrysomelida'. The injury occasioned to the Grape by the Colaspis is caused 

 by theadult insect only. In the larval stages it feeds on the roots of the Strawberry. 

 The larv£e may be found on the strawberry roots throughout the fall and winter. 

 They change to piip;e in June aud the beetles soon after emerge aud feed on the ten- 

 der leaves of the Strawberry aud later spread to other plants, attacking the grape- 

 vine chiefly. The history of this insect is given at length, with illustrations, in 

 Riley's Third Missouri Report, pages 81 to 84, aud in the Fourth Report, page 34. 

 The injury occasioued by the adults in defoliating vines may be prevented by spray- 

 ing with Loudon purple. A mixture in the proportion of 1 pound of the London 

 purple to 100 gallons of water will effectually destroy the beetles, and will rid the 

 vines of numerous other leaf- feeding insects. The specimens sent and termed " Hy- 

 meuoptera" prove to be one of the common " leaf hoppers " — Proconia vndata — one of 

 the false bugs or Homoptera. This species occurs on vegetation generally, but seldom 

 occurs in sufficient numbers to cause any annoyance. It is said to deposit its eggs ia 

 single rows in the grape stem and doubtless also deposits them in other plants. Should 

 their numbers warrant it this insect can be destroyed by jarring it on to cloth screens 

 saturated with kerosene. The grape-vine Colaspis may also be destroyed by the 

 same means. — [June 25, 1890.] 



London Purple and Paris Green for the Boll Worm. 



I wrote you some mouths ago in regard to the best methods of combating ravages 

 of Boll-worm, and you were kind enough to reply. Now I seek additional informa- 

 tion, as I see abundant evidences that we will lose our cotton again by them. 



(1) What poison is best, Paris green or London purple ? 



(2) For small farmers, what method of application is most efficient ? 



(3) If by spraying, what apparatus is most satisfactory; the same if dusting the 

 poison on is advised ? 



(4) If spraying is advised, what is the proper strength of poisoned water, how 

 much poison to a gallon ? 



(5) What is the chemical name of Paris green and " London purple," and if either 

 can be made soluble in water and still retain its poisonous properties? Anything 

 new elicited in the past few months? 



If you will kindly answer the foregoing questions and embody in your reply any 

 other suggestions, I will take occasion to give your answer large circulation through 

 the county press of this section of the State, in order that farmers may have the bene- 

 fit thereof.— [H. L. Tate, M. D., Lindale, Smith County, Tex., June 13, 1890. 



Reply. — A copy of the Fourth Report of the United States Entomological Com- 



