GRAVEVINE ROOT WORM 



Fidia viticida Walsh 



Ord. Coleoptera Fain. Ghrysomelidae 



INTROUUCTION 



The control of this pest in the Chautauqua grape belt is a 

 serious problem which we have attempted to solve. The insect 

 has, in recent years, caused enormous damages in the Ohio grape 

 belt and now occurs in large numbers in Portland, Westfield 

 and Ripley and has obtained a foothold over a large area. 

 Messrs Walter Northrop and F. A. Morehouse estimated in the 

 spring of 1902 that over 80 acres of magnilicent vineyards had 

 been destroyed or ruined by the pest in the vicinity of Ripley, 

 and our investigations at the present time show that the area 

 of severe injury and damage is constantly increasing, and is 

 liable to much greater extension in the next few years. We con- 

 sider this insect a much more serious enemy of the vinej^ard than 

 the well known grapevine leaf hopper or white fly,^ the work of 

 which was so apparent and destructive in 1902 and the pre- 

 ceding two or three years. This leaf hopper undoubtedly causes 

 much mischief, but, as its operations are confined to the leaves, the 

 amount of damage is easily seen and, when necessary, steps 

 may be taken to control it. The root worm on the other hand 

 inflicts its most serious injuries under ground, where its opera- 

 tions can not be readily observed, and in a great many instances 

 a vine or an entire vineyard is eintirely ruined before the grower 

 observes any trouble. This pest only requires two or three years 

 to ruin a vineyard; and this, in connection with the secrecy of 

 its work and the feeding of the grubs on the large roots, where 

 a small amount of girdling is fatal, renders it a most dangerous 

 enemy. Worst of all, this insect exhibits a decided preference 

 for the more thrifty vineyards and is found most abundantly on 

 or beneath the most vigorous vine^. We believe that 15 or 20 

 grubs about a vine or as many beetles on its foliage are sufficient 

 to warrant the adoption of vigorous measures for the suppression 

 of the pest, though we are well aware that many more are fre- 



^Typhlocyba comes var. v i t i s Harris 



