I 
ACTING STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 
INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE GARDENER AND 
THE FRUIT-GROWER. 
INSECTS INFESTING THE GRAPE. — ON THE FRUIT. 
CHAPTER I. — The Grape Curculio. {Cceliodes incequalis, Say.) See plate, fig. 1. 
This species of Snout beetle was described in the perfect beetle state 36 years ago by 
the great American entomologist, Thomas Say ; but up to this date it has never been 
recognized scientifically in the larva state, and consequently its habits in that state 
have remained a sealed book to the great world of science. Yet the destructive opera¬ 
tions of the larva upon the cultivated grape have been known to vineyardists for several 
years back, and the insect appears to be very generally distributed through the valley 
of the Mississippi; as may be seen at once from the following statements: — % 
So long ago as 1853, Dr. Warder, the distinguished pomologist, said that “ at Cincin¬ 
nati they have insects that work on the grape — a species of Curculio.” ( Transactions 
lUinois State Agricultural Society , I. p. 340.) Mr. Spaulding, of Cobden, South Illinois, 
tells me that he has noticed it on his grapes for 4 years ; and that one particular vine 
has been nearly ruined by it for 3 consecutive years. Mr. T. J. Prickett, of the same 
neighborhood, says that it has infested his grapes for the last 3 years. One of these 
years it took, as he informs me, three-fifths of the fruit upon one Isabella and one Con¬ 
cord vine, so as to render the crop almost entirely worthless. Col. II. C. Forbes, of 
Cobden, finds the Grape Curculio worse than the Rot upon his grapes. Mr. S. W. Beck, 
with, who. resides not far from Cobden, discovered 5 or 6 individuals of the perfect 
beetle, which he identified from specimens shown to him by me, upon his grapes in the 
forepart of August, 1867. Prof. Turner, of Jacksonville, Central Illinois, and Mr. McPike 
)f Alton, South Illinois, both of them told me that their grapes were badly stung in 
.867 by what, from their description, must be the same insect. Mr. J. R. Switzer, of 
^arroll Co. and Mr. W. Olds, of Whitesides Co., both in North Illinois, inform me that 
he^ have eacl1 of them noticed in their grapes, though only in small numbers, borings 
vhich in all probability are nothing else but those of this Curculio. Mr. C. H. Murray, 
>1 Clay City, South Illinois, writes in the JVew York Tribune of Oct., 29, 1867, that “ last 
-ear nearly all of the wild grapes of that region were stung by some kind of a fly, and 
t the time of ripening contained a small worm.” « This year,” he adds, “ there are no 
V ild £ ra P es > but the tame grapes have been stung. Some fell off, others remained until 
he time of ripening, and contained a bluish white worm, about one-fourth of an inch 
