306 The Spraying of Plants. 



Treatment. The larvae are easily destroyed by spraying af- 

 fected vines with an insecticide, such as an arsenite, hellebore, 

 or kerosene emulsion. 



Grape-vine Flea-beetle ; Steely-bug (Graptodera chalybea, 

 Illig.). Description. This insect passes the winter in the 

 adult form. As soon as the buds of the grape commence to 

 swell in the spring the beetles begin feeding, the centers of the 

 buds appearing to contain the most coveted portions. When a 

 bud has been eaten in this manner it is of course useless, and in 

 cases of severe attacks, which sometimes occur, the entire crop 

 of the year may be ruined in a short time. The beetles feed 

 for about a month, when eggs are laid in clusters on the under 

 side of the leaves. Small, dark-brown larvae soon appear, and 

 these immediately feed upon the foliage. In about four weeks 

 they leave the vines and pupate, the adult beetle appearing in 

 about three weeks. It then continues feeding until fall. 



Treatment. This insect is very easily controlled. The vines 

 should be sprayed with Paris green when the beetles first attack 

 the buds, and again when the young larvae appear. One or 

 two applications made during each of these two periods will 

 practically clear a vineyard of the pest. 



Leaf-hopper ; Thrip (Erythroneura Vitis, Harris). Descrip- 

 tion. This insect passes the winter in the adult form. It is 

 about an eighth of an inch long, of a white color, but marked 

 by three dark red bands. Eggs are laid in the leaves, the larvae 

 appearing in June. These miniature forms are without wings, 

 but otherwise closely resemble the adult, except in being smaller. 

 They moult several times, their white cast-off skins adhering to 

 the under surfaces of the leaves for some time. They feed 

 upon the juices of the plant. Grapes having thin foliage suffer 

 more from these insects than do the heavier-leaved varieties. 

 The affected leaves appear indistinctly spotted with white on 

 the upper surface, and frequently much injury is done to the 

 vine. 



Treatment. The treatment of this pest is unsatisfactory. If 

 the fallen foliage is gathered and destroyed so the insects can- 

 not find proper shelter during the winter, their number will be 

 materially reduced. The remedies suggested for the currant 

 leaf-hopper may be of avail in the vineyard. 



