300 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GRAPE. 



gathered and destroyed. This insect is attacked by a small 

 parasite, which doubtless does its part towards keeping the 

 enemy in subjection. 



No. 172.— The Grape Curculio. 



Oraponius incequalis (Say). 



This is a small beetle belonging to the family of Curculios, 

 which passes the winter probably in the perfect state, and lays 

 its eggs on the young grapes some time in June or early in 

 July. It is a diminutive and inconspicuous insect, only about 

 one-tenth of an inch long. (See Fig. 311, where it is shown 



Fig. 311. 



Fig. 312. 



much magnified.) Its color is black, sprinkled with grayish 

 spots and dots, and thickly punctated. 



The young larva, when hatched, enters the fruit and begins 

 to feed upon it, its presence being indicated by a discoloration 

 on one side of the berry, as if it were prematurely ripening. 

 A dark, circular dot soon appears in the middle of the 

 colored spot, showing the point where the insect has entered 

 the fruit. The affected berry does not decay, but remains 

 sound and plump; but it sometimes drops to the ground 

 before it is fully ripe. In Fig. 312 a specimen of the injured 

 fruit is shown at a, and at 6 a magnified view of the larva, 

 which is an elongated, footless grub, tapering towards the 

 head, about one-fifth of an inch long, the head large, brown- 

 ish yellow, and horny, the body yellowish white and trans- 

 parent. Late in July or early in August the larva becomes 

 full grown, when it leaves the berry, drops to the ground, 



