THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 71 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE-VINE. 



Under this head, I shall continue the series of articles begun in 

 my First Report, in order to give the grape-growers of our State a 

 thorough understanding of their insect enemies, and thus lessen the 

 hindrances and drawbacks to viticulture — that most important and 

 pleasant part of rural industry, which is increasing with such unpre- 

 cedented rapidity. 



THE HOG-CATERPILLAR OF THE VINE— Chcerocampa pampi- 

 natrix, Sm. & Abb.* 



[Lepidoptera, Sphingidae.] 

 [Fig. 44.] 



Of the large solitary cat- 

 ^s\^ erpillars that attack the 



Grape-vine, this is by far 

 the most common and inju- 

 rious in the Mississippi Val- 

 f - ley. I have frequently 



found the egg of this insect 

 glued singly to the under- 

 side of a leaf. It is 0.05 inch 

 in diameter, perfectly round 

 \ * l >'"'■> " \ * s and of a uniform delicate 



1. '•/•-' yellowish-green color. The 



.^.Vjj-^r- young worm which hatches 

 ^ tli ™ aSBS ^ 3 ^~ K_ from it, is pale green, with 



a long straight horn at its tail ; and after feeding from four to five 

 weeks it acquires its full growth, when it presents the appearance of 

 Figure 41, the horn having become comparatively shorter and ac- 

 quired a posterior curve. 



This worm is readily distinguished from other grape-feeding spe- 

 cies by having the third and fourth rings immensely swollen, while 

 the first and second rings are quite small and retractile. It is irom 

 this peculiar appearance of the fore part of the body, which strikingly 

 suggests the fat cheeks and shoulders and small head of a blooded 

 hog, that it may best be known as the Hog-caterpillar of the vine. 

 The color of this worm when full grown is pea-green, and it is wrink- 

 led transversely and covered with numerous pale-yellow dots, placed 



*Synonynis, Sphinx, [Darapsa] myron, Cramer ; Otus cnotus, Huebner. Of the four different 

 generic names under which this species has been classified, " Sphinx" is a general term for all the 

 Hawk-moths and refers to the sphinx-like attitude often assumed by their larva) ; " Chcerocampa" is 

 derived from two Greek words which mean " Hog-caterpillar;" and " Darapsa" and " Otus" are 

 gibberish. Of the three different specific names, " Myron" refers to an ancient Greek who bore 

 this appellation, "cnotus" is pure unadulterated gibberish, and "pampinatrix" is from the Latin 

 and signifies "a female vine-pruner." Both Harris and Fitch describe this insect under the name of 

 Chcerocampa pampinatrix ; and this, as the appellation best known to our grape-growers, and the 

 most characteristic of the habits of the species, I should prefer to retain, although no doubt, ac- 

 cording to the strict Law of Priority, the specific name of Myron ought to be employed. Mr. 

 Walker, Dr. Clemens and Dr. Morris call this species "Darapsa Myron," and Mr. Grote calls it 

 " Otus Myron." By ringing the changes with sufficient ingenuity upon the four generic and the 

 three specific names, we may obtain no less than twelve different names for this one insect ! 



