Inclement Weather^ Diseases, Etc. 



309 



Some animals wage unremitting war against May- 

 beetles : such are the bat, the rook, the owl, and the 

 screeth-owl,* all of which devour the fully developed 

 insect, and the mole, which feeds on the larvje. It 

 will, therefore, be advisable not to destroy these ani- 

 mals in localities infested by May-beetles, 



The Vine-Pyralis, also known to vine-dressers by the 

 name of vine-worm. This is, beyond doubt, the insect 

 causing most ravages in vineyards ; it 

 appears twice a year in the shape of a 

 larva, or worm, and is first seen at blos- 

 soming time. At this period, its larva 

 [Fig. 135] devours the leaves and young 



bunches, which it wraps up in numerous 



silky threads. It is next seen in the fall, 



between the berries, which it also covers 



with silky threads. The larvae pass the 



winter in silky cocoons, placed under old L*^°" ^35'J ■ 



ragged bark, or in the slits of old stakes. L^rva of 



In April or May, they are transformed ytne- 



into little butterflies, of a yellowish white "yralts. 



[Fig. 136]. These butterflies lay their eggs in July, 



on the silky tissue enveloping the 



grapes. 



The three following plans have 



been proposed; for the destruction 



of this mischievous insect : ist, the [Fig. 136.I But~ 



careful removal and burning of all terfly of the Py- 



the bunches inclosed in silky ralis^ 



threads, as well as of the rolled-up 



* In this country the skunk eats the beetle, and the crow and blackbird 

 consume the larvse of our May-beetles. 



