532 



INSECTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



Life History. The moths appear in the spring as the shoots 

 of the grape are pushing out, and continue to emerge for some 

 weeks. The earlier ones lay their eggs on the blossom clusters, 

 while the later ones deposit them on the young grapes. The 

 minute flat, scale-like eggs arc stuck to the surface of the stems 

 or berries, and look like small glistening, whitish spots. The 

 little larvae hatching from them feed on the blossoms and small 



FIG. 383. Grape-lttelr^ moth caterpillars, enlarged. (After Slingerland.) 



*.-'. -" ' 



berries, webbing 'th^c lusters together, and might do much more 



damage than the latter generations were it not that they are much 

 fewer in number, there being a great mortality of the insects over 

 winter. The larvae become full grown in about three weeks. 

 The mature larva is about three-eighths inch long, varying in 

 color from dark greenish to dark purplish, with a light-brown 

 head and black thoracic shield. The body is covered with 

 numerous faintly outlined darker spots, from which arise whitish 



