GRAPE VINES INSECTS. 335 



vitis), which lives on the previous year's wood and closely resembles apple mussel scale 

 (see Vol. I., page 273). The rods and stems should be freed of the insects with a stiff 

 brush and a strong potash solution, say wood ashes steeped a few days in double the 

 quantity of water, then strain off the liquid. The soda and potash solution, Vol. I., page 

 251, may also be employed. 



Thrips (Heliothrips hsemorrhoidalis). This is the most common species found on 

 vines, but the yellow thrips occasionally infest the foliage and ripe fruit (see Vol. I., 

 pages 274-276). Fumigation is the best remedy, taking care to deliver the smoke cool, 

 to have the foliage dry, and not to give an overdose. Thrips are generally introduced 

 to vines by infested plants, and the insects are favoured by a dry atmosphere. Washing 

 the leaves with a soft-soap solution, 2 ounces to a gallon of water, using a sponge, is a 

 good means of checking the spread of the insects, and early action saves an immense 

 amount of after trouble. 



Weevil. The Black Vine "Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) is aided in its depreda- 

 tions by the Pitchy-legged (0. picipes), and they do considerable damage to vine leaves 

 and roots. 0. sulcatus is black or dark brown, with yellowish tufts of hair on the 

 deeply furrowed elytra, the thorax is coarsely tubercled with a slight furrow down the 

 middle, and the beak is deeply grooved. It has six legs with toothed thighs, and is 

 about f inch long. The larvae are dirty white and legless. They feed on the young 

 roots for several weeks, become pupae in the soil, and the weevils emerge in about a 

 fortnight, and at once commence feeding on the vine leaves. 



Larval attacks are most difficult to deal with, but they must be mitigated as far as 

 practicable, otherwise newly planted vines may be seriously injure J, if not destroyed. 

 The best means of checking the ravages of the larvae are described on page 9 1 , but 

 great care must be taken to apply the remedies so as not to injure the roots, and salt 

 is best avoided. Quicklime forked into the borders 3 or 4 inches deep is inimical to 

 grubs and not injurious to vines. The weevils are readily captured by laying white 

 cloths under the vines in the daytime ; and at night, after dark, the vines should be 

 shaken briskly, when the weevils will be found on the cloths, and may be collected and 

 destroyed. A good light is necessary, also a quick eye and active fingers. 



Wireworms. These, the larvae of different species of Click Beetle, occasionally prove 

 injurious to the roots of vines, especially young vines planted in borders, mainly com- 

 posed of turfy loam. The best and safest remedy is to capture and destroy the larvae by 

 means of carrot and other baits (see Vol. I., page 278). 



