130 THE GRAPE IN KANSAS. 



ENEMIES OF THE GRAPE. 



The larvae of upward of fifty moths feed on the foliage of the grape. Many of 

 these are rare, yet many others are occasionally destructive. The large green or 

 brownish, usually horned, sphingid larvae and certain cutworms are oftenest the 

 cause of important damage. The larvae of some ten species of hawk-moths or 

 ephingids occur in the grape, and nearly all are widely distributed. The one 

 most frequently met with is the achemon sphink (Philampelus achemon). 

 The sphinx larvae strip a branch at a time completely, and are therefore easily 

 noted. They are not often very abundant, and the injury is not usually great, 

 except in the case of young vines which may be entirely stripped and killed by a 

 single larva. Hand picking is ordinarily the safest and most satisfactory remedy. 



Climbing cutworms have at times proved very destructive to the buds and 

 foliage of vines, and in northern New York and in the raisin district of Fresno, 

 Cal., as much damage has been done by them as by any other insect enemy. Of 

 the several species which in different localities have been troublesome, the worst 

 record may be assigned to the dark-sided cutworm (A gratis messoria) and the 

 variegated cutworm (A. saucia). 



Cutworms remain concealed in the ground during the day and climb up and 

 strip the vines at night. They may easily be destroyed by the use of a poisoned 

 bait of bran, arsenic (or Paris green), and water, preferably sweetened with a lit- 

 tle sugar. It should be distributed about the base of each vine in the form of a 

 mash, a handful or so in a place, according to C. L. Marlatt, of the United States 

 department of agriculture, from whose report on insect enemies of the grape the 

 foregoing is learned. 



THE APHIS. 



The aphis, or green fly, often called plant- louse, is a very small insect. The 

 rapidity with which they multiply is truly astonishing, as in a few hours after 

 they make their appearance upon a plant it will often become entirely covered 

 with them. They usually attack only the ends of the young shoots and more 

 tender leaves, feeding upon the juices of the plant, which they take from it in 

 such quantities as to cause those parts which they infest to soon wither and die. 

 Moist, warm weather seems to suit them better than any other. They frequently 

 attack young vines in the nursery, and often entirely destroy the terminal shoot 

 as well as the young laterals, thus severely checking the growth of the vine. 

 Vines grown under glass are more subject to the attacks of the aphis than others, 

 but here they are readily destroyed. But when they attack plants in the open air, 

 it is quite another thing. The only effectual method that I have found is to go 

 over the young vines and, holding the infested shoot in one hand, with a good, 

 stiff brush, clean off the aphides. A few upward strokes will usually kill every one, 

 without materially injuring the young shoot. A good leather glove will be needed, 

 to protect the hand that holds the shoot. The generic name of this insect is 

 Aphis; the specific name is usually taken from the name of the plant upon 

 which it is found ; thus, when found on the vine, it is called Aphis vitas / when 

 on the apple, Aphis mali, from mahts, the specific botanical name of the apple. 



The larvae of a small, spotted insect called the ladybird feeds upon the 

 aphides, devouring vast numbers of them. The ladybird is the gardener's friend, 

 and should never be killed if it can be avoided. These little beetles are usually 

 red or orange yellow, with small black spots; some kinds have only three spots; 

 others have as many as nine. They are very common, and many has been the 

 crime that has been laid to them of which they were entirely innocent. 



