The Grape-Leaf Fidia. {Fidia viticida.) 



This often is mistaken for the Rose-Chafer, as it likewise feeds upon the leaves of the vine. 

 It is of an ashy-gray color, about one- third of an inch long. It "plays 'possum," also, and may 

 be caught in broad pans, or on sheets held under the vines when jarred and the beetles quickly 

 emptied into a vessel containing some water covered with a layer of kerosene; or chickens may 

 be trained to pick them up when jarred down. As they appear early in the season, the early 

 spraying with arsenate of lead in the Bordeaux Mixture quickly exterminates them. 



The Grape Flea-Beetle. {Haltica chalybea.) 



This is a small steel-blue beetle, a little over one-eighth of an inch long, which spryly hops 

 and flies away when approached. Both it and its larvas (one-fourth of an inch long and covered 

 with minute black dots), feed voraciously upon the upper surface of leaves. Bordeaux with 

 Arsenate of Lead, Paris Green or London Purple sprayed over the foliage kills them. If Paris 

 Green or London Purple is used, put in ten or twelve ounces to every 50 gallons of water. These 

 poisons must not be used after the young grapes are larger than goose shot. 



The Grape Leaf Folder. {Desmia funeralis.) 



This is a bright green "worm"-larva — of a miller or moth with black wings bordered with 

 white and having two white elliptical spots on upper side of outer wing in both male and female, 

 and one on under wing of male, and two on under wing of female. The moth measures about 

 one inch, or more, from tip to tip of wings when spread, and it flies chiefly at night and lays 

 its green eggs, singly, on upper side of the leaves. These hatching, the larva begins at once to 

 feed on the leaf, and if the leaf have any pubescent down on that side, it attaches its web to the 

 hairs, first on one side, then the other of itself, and draws a portion of the leaf over itself for 

 protection and continues to eat and skeletonize the leaf, until full grown, when it goes into the 

 chrysalis state, within the fold of leaf, and soon comes out another moth, pairs and lays more eggs. 

 It does its work mostly in after part of summer. It cannot work upon leaves that are entirely 

 devoid of pubescence, hence such varieties escape it. The Bordeaux and Arsenate of Lead spray 

 applied thoroly, as soon as the crop is gathered, stops it, as well as the mildew that .does so 

 much damage late in summer on some varieties. The Bordeaux spray alone holds it in check 

 before that. 



The Grape Leaf-Hopper. (Erythroneura vitis.) 



This is a small sap-sucking winged insect, that is very active, in dodging, hopping and flying. 

 It is about 3/16 of an inch long, is white or yellowish with delicate and variable wing-markings. 

 It lives on the under sides of the leaves which it punctures, and sucks out the juices, causing the 

 leaves to look grayish above, when much punctured, and finally to drop prematurely. The insect 

 multiplies at an enormous rate. It cannot be poisoned by the arsenic poisons, as it does not eat 

 the tissue. It some seasons greatly injures the vines, and must be fought. This is done by draw- 

 ing a large sheet iron pan with glowing coals in it, onto which coal oil is occasionally poured in 

 small quantities, along between the rows, while another person goes along opposite on each side, 

 on outside of the two rows, jarring the vines, when the insects fly out on other side and dash 

 into the flame. By this means they can be held in check, so as to do little damage. 



The insects hibernate under grass and leaves, if left in the vineyard, and among weeds, leaves 

 and grass surrounding the vineyard. These should be collected in the vineyard and buried or 

 burned and the rubbish surrounding the vineyard plowed under or burned. 



I have found the Bordeaux spray efficient in holding them in check, if abundantly applied 

 on all the underside of foHage, as is necessary to prevent Downy Mildew. The leaves seem to 

 absorb some of the copper and change to a darker green, and prevent the multipUcation of the 

 insect. (?) 



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