GRAPEVINE ROOT WORM 57 



«oine protection, as the beetles migrate to untreated vines. 

 This subject will be discussed more at length under " Remedial 

 measures." Most of the growers agree that thorough cultiva- 

 tion assists the vines greatly in resisting the depredations of 

 the grubs. The parties on whose premises carbon bisulfid was 

 used were not favorably impressed with the substance. They 

 state that in any event the cost of application is excessive con- 

 sidering the prevailing low prices for grapes. Considerable in- 

 jury was also inflicted on certain vineyards and it is very doubt- 

 ful if this measure can be used to advantage. 



Early history. This insect was first brought to notice in I860 

 when specimens were sent from Kentucky to Mr B. D. Walsh, 

 afterward state entomologist of Illinois. This gentleman 

 stated at the time that he had taken the beetle in small numbers 

 in both north and south Illinois, and later in the same year 

 described the species. He also received the insect the following 

 year from St Louis and Bluffton Mo., where the adults were said 

 to be eating both foliage and, fruit. Prof. C. V. Riley, in his 

 tirst report on the Injurious and Beneficial Insects of Missouri, 

 characterizes this species as one of the worst foes to the grape- 

 vine in Missouri. This condemnation was based solely on the 

 operations of the beetle on the leaves, an injury which is now 

 regarded as of little importance compared with the work on the 

 roots. Professor Riley received specimens from Bunker Hill 

 111., in 1870, and in 1873 Mr G. R, Crotch described the insect 

 under the name of Fidia murina and gave its recorded 

 distribution as from the Middle and Southern states. The 

 identity of the species described by Mr Crotch and this insect 

 was pointed out by Dr Horn in 1892, when he recorded its dis- 

 tribution as from the " Middle States to Dakota, Florida and 

 Texas." He also states that the insect described by Lefevre 

 under the name of Fidia 1 u r i d a belongs to this species. 

 This pest was received from the vicinity of Iowa City Io., by 

 Prof. H. F. Wickham in 1888, and Professor Riley has recorded 

 this form and the allied F. 1 o n g i p e s Melsh. as injuring 

 grape leaves at Vineland Ark. 



