242 



INJURIOUS IJq-SECTS 



In about a mouth the full-grown larvae (fig. 1 48, h), de- 

 scend into the ground, where each forms a small earthen 

 cell (fig. 148, c), and changes to a dull-yellowish pupa of 

 the shape normally assumed in this family. The perfect 

 beetle issues about three weeks later, from the middle of 

 June to the middle of J uly, and again begins to eat the 

 leaves, but the damage done is trifiing compared with 

 that done in early spring. So far as we have observed 

 there is but one annual generation, but it is probable 

 that in the more Southern States there will be two. As 

 soon as cold weather approaches the beetles retire under 

 fallen leaves in the ground, at the base of trees, under 

 loose bark, in houses, in short, in any place which offers 

 shelter from the cold. 



In considering the best means of preventing the injuries 

 of this insect, it must be borne in mind, that, according 

 to our observations, the female beetle deposits her eggs 

 by preference on the leaves of the wild grape vines, as 

 the larvae are rarely met with in cultivated vineyards. 

 It is against the perfect beetle, therfore, that we must 

 direct our efforts at destruction, and while it is undoubt- 

 edly desirable to keep the vineyard clear of rubbish in 

 winter time, by burning wherever fire can be used safely, 

 this means of destruction loses much of its importance 

 by the fact that the beetles hibernate in the woods and 

 in any number of other places where they cannot be de- 

 stroyed by fire. Dry lime and hellebore, which may be 

 used to advantage against the larvae, have proved useless 

 against the beetle, while lye and soapsuds cannot be used 

 strong enough to kill it without injurious effects upon the 

 plant. Tin pans or pails with some liquid at the bottom 

 have been used to advantage for collecting the early bee- 

 tles, which could be knocked into them, and we have re- 

 peatedly advised for this and other insects that infest the 

 grape-vine, which fall to the ground upon disturbance, the 

 use of sheets along the trellis to catch them. Unless re- 



