180 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OP VITICULTURE 



eggs on the leaves of the grape. The larvae, upon hatching, begin to feed 

 immediately upon the foliage. There are two generations of this insect 

 in a season. While there are several species of hawk moth larvae, the most 

 common one of the grape is "Pholus achemon." Where there are but 

 occasional specimens of this insect occurring in a vineyard the only practical 

 treatment is to pick them off by hand. Where there is a serious outbreak 

 over a large area, however, the vines may be sprayed with an arsenical 

 while the worms are still very small. 



LEAF CHAFERS AND FLEA BEETLES. 



Insects having the above common names appear on the grape occasion- 

 ally in California but are not generally serious pests. The larvae of the leaf 

 chafers usually feed upon the roots of grasses growing in the vicinity, while 

 the injury to the vine is due to the attacks of the adult beetle. The two 

 most common species of leaf chafers attacking the vine in this State are 

 "Serica mixta" and "Hoplia pubicollis." Since these insects appear usually 

 in immense swarms they are very difficult to control. They may, however, 

 be jarred off the vines or the vines may be sprayed with an arsenical spray. 



While there are several species of the flea beetle occurring in the State, 

 probably the most common one on the grape is "Haltica carinata." These 

 beetles have often been confused with the grape root worm discussed in the 

 earlier pages of this paper. They may, however, be distinguished from the 

 root worm because of their bluish color and the fact that they are capable of 

 jumping. The flea bettle also eats out irregular holes in the leaf which may 

 differ in size and shape, while root beetles eat out narrow strips of very 

 uniform size and shape. The flea beetle passes the winter among the leaves 

 or in other situations affording protection for the adult beetle. They 

 emerge in the early spring and begin to feed upon the buds of the vine. 

 The buds may be entirely eaten away or they may have the centers gouged 

 out so that they are completely destroyed. After thus feeding for some time 

 they begin depositing their eggs, generally in the crevices of the bark or at the 

 base of the buds. The larvae hatching from these attack the leaves or eat 

 holes in the buds as already indicated. After feeding for three or four 

 weeks and becoming full grown larvae, they drop to the ground, make a 

 little cell just beneath the surface and change to pupae. Beetles emerge a 

 week or two later and feed upon the leaves. There are thus two generations 

 a year. Since flea beetles feed upon the foliage both as larvae and adults, 

 they may be readily controlled by means of an arsenical spray such as 

 arsenate of lead. 



THE MEALY BUG OF THE GRAPE. 



During recent years in certain sections of Fresno and Stanislaus county 

 there has appeared a mealy bug which attacks the grape and which has 

 given more or less concern to grape growers. The particular species con- 

 cerned has not been positively identified but the evidence seems to indicate 

 that it is probably new. This insect over-winters very largely in the egg 

 stage, the egg masses being secreted under the layers of the old bark. The 



