2 BULLETIN 837, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



HISTORY IN OHIO. 



The grape-berry moth was destructive in Ohio as early as 1869, 

 according to Goodwin. 1 This was shortly after grape production 

 became an extensive industry in the State. In 1881 the insect is re- 

 corded as having been especially destructive on the islands in Lake 

 Erie. 1 Injury in Ohio was extensive again in 1905 and 1906, but later 

 decreased and in 1909 and 1910 the berry moth caused comparatively 

 little damage u 2 . The infestation became severe again in 1913 and 

 1914 and reached its height in 1915, when in some local sections as 

 much as two-thirds of the entire crop was ruined. The infestation 

 continued high in 1916, the first season of the investigations here re- 

 ported, and was but slightly less in 1917. Due to a cold autumn, 

 however, the commercial damage was much less in 1917 than in any 

 one of the four years preceding. In 1918, the last year of these in- 

 vestigations, the infestation about Cleveland was of no commercial 

 importance, but in the section about Sandusky the loss was heavy in 

 many unsprayed Catawba vineyards. 



NORTHERN OHIO CONDITIONS AFFECTING INFESTATION. 



The grape-berry moth has been a more general pest in the north- 

 ern Ohio section than in the commercial grape sections of New York, 

 Pennsylvania, or Michigan. This statement is based on published 

 reports 3 * 4 and on observations made by the senior author during the 

 seasons of 191-1-1918 inclusive. 



Four principal factors have brought about this condition: The 

 varieties grown, the cultural practices, the method of harvest, and. 

 the training system. 



VARIETIES GROWN. 



The Catawba variety predominates in the grape section about 

 Sandusky and on the neighboring Lake Erie islands. Due to its late 

 harvest this variety offers ideal conditions for the second-brood 

 larvae to mature and to reach winter quarters. In all the experi- 

 mental work conducted the Catawba variety has been uniformly in- 

 fested more heavily than the Concord, which is the predominating 

 variety in the Chautauqua-Erie belt of Pennsylvania and New York 

 and in Michigan sections. 



CULTURAL PRACTICES. 



Late in the fall, after grape harvest, a majority of the vineyards 

 are " plowed on." This operation consists in beginning next to the 



1 Goodwin, W. H. The grape-berry worm (Polychrosis viteana Clemens). Ohio Agr. 

 Exp. Sta. Bui. 293, p. 259-307 (20 pi. on p, 288-307). 1916. 



- Gossard, H. A., and Houser, J. S. The grape-berry worm. Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta. Cire. 

 63. 16 p.. fig. 1906. 



3 Johnson, Fred, and Hammar, A. G. The grape-berry moth. U. S. Dept. Agr. Bur. 

 Ent. Bui. 116, Pt. II, p. 15-71, fig. 4-22, pi. 4-8. 1912. 



4 Isely, Dwight. Control of the grape-berry moth in the Erie-Chautauqua grape belt. 

 U. S. Dept. Agr. Bui. 550. 44 p., 9 fig., 6 pi. 1917. 



