142 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



cious in killing this species as it is in the destruction of the San 

 Jos^ scale. 



Plum mite (Phytoptus phlaeocoptes Nal.). The 

 presence of this little mite on plumtrees at Marlborough, was 

 brought to our attention some years ago, and an examination the 

 present season shows that it exists in the locality only in very 

 small numbers, and as a consequence is hardly likely to become a 

 pest of any importance. The owner has cut down the original 

 tree and anticipates very little trouble in the future. 



Grapevine pests 



Grapevine sawfly (Blennocampa pygmaea Harr.) . The 

 larvae of this species were met with rather plentifully July 28 

 in the vineyard of Mr W. H. Van Benschoten, West Park N. Y. 

 Tips of shoots, here and there, were partially defoliated, but in 

 no instance was material injury caused. The larvae are usually 

 rare in New York State vineyards, so far as our observations go, 

 and in case of their appearing in very large numbers, they should 

 be controlled by thorough spraying with an arsenical poison. 



Steely flea beetle (Haltica chalybea 111.). This per- 

 nicious Chrysomelid is well known to grape growers, and in some 

 vineyards in the Chautauqua region it has caused considerable 

 injury year after year ; particularly is this the case with certain 

 vineyards located well up on the hill and back from the lake. 

 The greatest damage is done by the beetles feeding on the unfold- 

 ing buds, and the best method of checking the injury is undoubt- 

 edly by very thorough spraying or even painting the unfolding 

 foliage with a strong arsenical mixture, particularly paris green 

 or london purple, because these substances act more quickly than 

 does arsenate of lead. 



Grapeberry moth (Polychrosis botrana Schiff.) . This 

 insect was not only destructive in Chautauqua county but devel- 

 oped in such large numbers in some Ohio vineyards as to destroy 

 one third of the crop as reported by Mr T. S. Clymonts. Our 

 experiments have shown that one thorough spraying with an 

 arsenical poison, preferably arsenate of lead, just after blossom- 



