2G6 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ December, 
VINES AND VINE-CULTURE. 
Chapter XIII.— Injurious Insects, and the Remedies to be Adopted. 
HE Grape Vine is subject to, or becomes preyed on by, a great variety of insects, 
wbicli feed upon and destroy the vitality of the plant, if left unmolested. 
It is, therefore, of great importance that the vine cultivator should be 
thoroughly acquainted with all these pests—their general appearance and 
mode of life, the causes which may lead to their presence or encouragement; also, 
the best and surest methods of preventing or guarding against their attacks, and 
how to destroy them when, unfortunately, they may appear. With these pre¬ 
fatory remarks, we shall now proceed to notice and briefly describe the most 
injurious of these insect enemies of the Vine. 
The Red Spider {Tetraiiychus telarhis), —Fig. 1 is a greatly-magnified sketch of 
this insect, which is, perhaps, the most troublesome of all, because of its being so 
general. There is seldom a crop of Grapes produced without some damage or 
other being committed by this little pest. It is so small that it is scarcely visible 
without the aid of a magnifying-glass, yet its whereabouts is too easily recognised 
by the experienced cultivator. It is a true spider, of a pale red colour, and spins 
fine webs on the leaves, chiefly on the under-side, where thousands of them may 
frequently be seen congregated, giving the leaves quite a reddish-brown hue. It 
is this brownish or reddish appearance of the leaves which often first betrays its 
Fia. 1.—Red Spider. 
Fig. 2.—Thrips. 
presence. The insects feed upon the juices of the plant, especially those drawn from 
the leaves, which soon assume a sickly yellow hue, and are either destroyed or 
rendered useless. Thus, when the red spider is allowed to feed upon and destroy 
the vitality of the leaves, the result is equivalent to there being no leaves on the 
plant; and without leaves there will be no grapes. The first appearance, then, of 
this pest should be the signal for the commencement of stringent measures for 
its eradication. 
As to the causes which tend to its introduction, the chief is dryness or 
aridity. Dryness of the atmosphere, especially if produced by fire-heat, is doubtless 
the most fertile agent. Dryness at the roots will also cause its appearance ; and 
frequently it may happen that want of ventilation in hot weather will favour its 
