UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



BULLETIN No. 550 



Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 

 L. O. HOWARD, Chief 



Washington, D. C. 



August 9, 1917 



CONTROL OF THE GRAPE-BERRY MOTH IN THE 

 ERIE-CHAUTAUQUA GRAPE BELT. 



By Dwight Isely, Scientific Assistant, Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations. 



CONTENTS. 



Introduction 1 



Food plant 2 



Distribution 2 



Economic status 2 



Destructiveness within a vineyard 3 



Summary of seasonal history and habits 4 



Feeding habits of larvae 5 



Flight of moths 5 



History of control methods 5 



Control experiments at North East, Pa 6 



Control experiments — Continued. Page. 

 Eliminating vineyard conditions favor- 

 able to the grape-berry moth 7 



Destruction of leaves in fall 8 



Bagging grape clusters 9 



Hand picking infested berries 9 



Early harvesting 12 



Burying hibernating pupa? 12 



Spraying 13 



Summary and recommendations 39 



Literature cited 42 



INTRODUCTION. 



Of the grape pests of the Erie-Chautauqua grape belt none is more 

 baffling to control or more discouraging to the vineyardist than the 

 grape-berry moth (Polychrosis viteana Clem.) (PL I). Owing to its 

 direct attack upon the fruit, its ravages are felt at once wherever it is 

 present in destructive numbers. It is very erratic in its occurrence, 

 both locally and seasonally. In some years it may be practically 

 absent from the majority of the vineyards of the belt, whereas in 

 other years it is often not only the pest of first importance, but its 

 ravages exceed those of all other pests combined. 



To establish means of control for this pest experiments were con- 

 ducted at North East, Pa., during the seasons of 1914, 1915, and 1916. 1 



1 This investigation was conducted under the direction of Dr. A. L. Quaintance, Entomologist in Charge 

 of Deciduous Fruit Insect Investigations of the Bureau of Entomology. At the outset the work was 

 greatly facilitated by the temporary association of Mr. Fred Johnson, formerly of this bureau, who 

 placed at the writer's service his extended knowledge of grape insects and conditions in the Erie-Chau- 

 tauqua grape region. The writer was assisted during the seasons of 1914 and 1915 by Mr. E. R. Selkregg 

 and in 1916 by Mr. James K. Primm. Parallel with the experiments for direct control of the grape-berry 

 moth, a study of its parasites was made by Mr. R. A. Cushman, from wbom valuable cooperation was 

 received. To these gentlemen and the cooperating vineyardists the writer wishes to express his appre- 

 ciation for numerous courtesies. 



Note. — This bulletin will be of interest to grape raisers in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio. 

 87069°— Bull. 550—17^1 



