138 THIRTIETH REPOKT ON THE STATE MUSEUM. [26] 



but some of the larger withered grapes contained two seeds, 

 each having a dark spot upon its surface. On cutting the 

 seeds carefully open, the kernel was found almost entirely 

 consumed, and the cavity occupied by a small, milk-white, 

 footless grab, with a &quot;pair of brown hooked mandibles, a 

 smooth and glossy skin, with a few very line short white hairs. 

 When at rest, it was nearly oval in form, but when in motion, 

 its body became elongated, varying in length from one-fifteenth 

 to one-twelfth of an inch.&quot; 



Mr. Saunders found the larvae unchanged within the seeds, 

 and quite active, in an examination made in the month of 

 February. Early in July they were still soft, but motionless, 

 and they may have been in the pupa state. On the 9th of 

 August, a number of the perfect insects, dead, were found 

 when the contents of the bottle containing the seeds were 

 turned out upon a piece of white paper. They had probably 

 effected their escape during the last half of July. 



It is possible that this insect may not prove so destructive 

 as it threatens to do, by spreading from garden to garden, and 

 throughout our vineyards. If it were left unmolested, under 

 circumstances continuing to favor its increase, it is capable 

 within a few years of compelling the abandonment of the cul 

 ture of the grape in our country. Hidden within the seeds, it 

 could readily be distributed in the transportation of the grapes 

 to distant markets, through the several States of the Union. 

 This is the first instance that we have heard of its appearance 

 within the United States. 



Encouraged by the recollection that at different times in the 

 past, when a destructive insect pest has threatened to pursue 

 its ravages without the probability of its arrest by human 

 agency, some kindly parasite or climatic condition has come 

 to our aid so we shall hope that in the present instance the 

 little Isosoma mils will not find conditions more favorable to 

 its existence in its new habitat, or others that it may select, 

 than it enjoyed in Canada, where its spread seems to have 

 been, for the time, at least, arrested. 



No means, however, should be left untried that promise to 

 arrest and destroy it. Knowing the history of the insect, we 

 are able to state that it can best, perhaps only, be destroyed 

 while in the larval or grub state, or previous to attaining its 

 perfect condition. This may be done by burning all the 

 shriveled grapes, as well as those not shriveled, but showing 



