THE GRAPE-BERRY MOTH. 



27 



green grape and eats out a small cavity beneath the skin in which 

 to deposit its egg. This injury causes a purple spot on the surface 

 of the berry similar to that which occurs at the point of entrance on 

 the berry by the larva of the grape-berry moth. Where the two 

 insects occur in the same vineyard their work is likely to be confused. 

 The larva hatching from the egg of the grape curculio is a small, 

 white, legless grub which tunnels to the center of the berry, feeds on 

 the pulp, and frequently attacks the seed in much the same manner 

 as does the larva of the grape-berry moth (see fig. 9, d). The larva 

 of the grape-berry moth, however, is a caterpillar of a green or pur- 

 plish color (see PL IV, fig. 3), having six well-developed legs and 

 a longer and more slender 

 body, is very active in its 

 movements, and when dis- 

 turbed by cutting open the 

 berry which it infests is likely 

 to wriggle from its tunnel and 

 drop to the ground. 



The grape curculio is not 

 a common pest in the vine- 

 yards of New York State and 

 in the vicinity of the Great 

 Lakes. 



During the investigation 

 of grape insects covering the 

 past five years only two 

 light infestations of this in- 

 sect have been observed in 

 the vineyards of the Lake 

 Erie Valley. It is, however, 

 a common vineyard pest in 

 West Virginia and in many of 

 the States of the Mississippi 

 Valley and the Middle West. Since the beetles feed on the foliage 

 of the grapevine it is readily controlled by spraying with arsenate 

 of lead, the applications being made at the same date as recom- 

 mended against the larvae of the grape-berry moth and the grape 

 rootworm. 



An account of the life history and habits of the grape curculio, 

 including methods for its control, are given in Farmers' Bulletin 

 284 on " Insect and Fungous Enemies of the Grape East of the 

 Rocky Mountains," by Messrs. A. L. Quaintance and C. L. Shear. 



There is also a minute chalcis fly, 1 Evoxysoma vitis Saunders, 

 which caused some alarm among vineyardists in Canada when it 

 was discovered in the vicinity of London, Ontario, by Saunders in 



Fig. 9. — Work of the grape curculio in berry of grape: a, 

 Berry from which grub or larva has emerged; b, adult or 

 weevil ovipositing on berry; c, enlarged section of portion 

 of berry, showing egg cavity and egg; d, injured berry cut 

 open, showing larva at work, a, b, d, Enlarged; c, highly 

 magnified. (From Farmers' Bulletin 284.) 



i Can. Farmer, October 15, 1868, p. 316. 



