448 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Life History. The life history is almost identical with that 

 of the preceding species, the habit of the species differing only 

 in the manner of oviposition. The eggs are laid in late May and 

 early June. In laying the egg, the female deposits it in the same 

 manner as does the previous species, and then instead of placing 

 a series of holes in a row she makes them in a ring around the 

 cane, only the first one containing an egg. She then goes to 

 the next joint above and makes a series of holes around it, com- 

 pletely severing it, so that it hangs by a shred and soon drops. 

 The little larva feeds in the pith of the joints on either side of 

 the egg puncture, and these two joints die and drop to the ground. 

 The larva becomes full grown in about a month and changes to 



FIG. 376. The grapecane girdler (Ampeloglypter ater Lee.): a, egg; 6, larva; 

 c, pupa; d, beetle all enlarged. (After Brooks.) 



a pupa in its burrows soon after the dead section drops, first 

 filling the burrow with little pellets of fibres. Two weeks later 

 the adult beetle emerges, appearing during late summer. The 

 whole life cycle thus requires sixty-five to seventy days. The 

 beetles hibernate over winter. 



Control. The injured canes are quite conspicuous in early 

 summer and by cutting them off a few inches below the egg scars 

 the eggs and larvae may be removed and destroyed. Brooks is 

 of the opinion that the beetles will be largely destroyed in vine- 

 yards thoroughly sprayed with arsenicals for other grape insects, 



