Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-02
Gbs Obio 6tatesnram
I X z n Q
Insects Injurious to the Grape vine.

The STEEL-BLuE LEa-BRETLE-Gyoptodeya
chaIybea.-This insect has been known since
1907, at which time It was described by Iliger
in the Magazn fur Insectenkunde; and again by
Dr.. Harris, In "Insects luxurious to vegetation, .
l84l; new edition, 1852 Il is an American
insect, and it's natural food is the wild vines 80
abundant IN our forests, and Is not found in
any country of the old world; the "vine beetle"
of K0lar being In nc way related to it; but an
all ei eptcies-Haitica oeTaceg--was, In 1887,
very Injurious TO the vine at Montpelier,
France In this case, the insect was In the per.
feet state, and it does not appear that the vine
constitutes its usual food In England II feeds
on the seed leaves OF various plants, and Is also
found, during the summer, on the, hazel, which
IL does not appear TO irjure much, as Loudon
does not include II among the insects Injurious
to that plant.
The steel-bue or grape vine aea-5eetle be-
longs to the family of Chrysomelians, to the
old genus AtcI or Hahiea, and to the sub.
genus GTapfodsTa. All the members of the
genus Halica are Of small size, and are pos
sessed OF great leapiDg powers, the bind legs
being largely developed for that purpose. Many
are OF bright colors. Their food consists OF the
leaves Of vegetables, while in the larvsl and
perfect states. 10 April, the grape vine flea
uccucc ieouO Hom tuo HiOuuuJ "bciS suOy hhFo
passed the winter, and aecend the stems and
branches of our cultivated and wild grapes, aud
eat into the buds that have just began to ex-
pand, leaving the outer wooly covering untouch.
ed, except at the point Of entry, but devouring
the whole of the embryo leaves and blossom
buds; thus destroying all hope Of a crop Of fruit
that season, and permanently njuring the vines
in many cases. When numerous, the entire
crop of vineyard is often destroyed by this
means. In May, when the vine leaves are ex-
panded, the female beetle deposits her eggs on
them, and the young speedily hatch. They eat
both leaves and blossoms, but are usually found
feeding on the upper surface of the leaves, eat.
ing the parenchma in blotches, and leaving but
the skeleton framework of nerves be-
meath. Its color is a light brown with
eight rows Of dorsal and lateral black
spots; those of the dorsal being con-
fluent; on each spot there is a single hair, the
breathing aperture or trache@ have two; head
and feet black; antenn@, very short legs, six tho
racic and anal tubercle; length, tear and q half
lines. 10 walking, 1t often moves its body In
the manner of the caterpillar Of geometer
moth, bringing the tip of It's abdomen up with
Jerk, but it also crawls without moving its body
in that manner; the under eide of the abdomi-
nal segments are swollen, presenting the appear.
ance of minute prolegs. About the beginning
OF June the larve descends and enters the ground
for a short distance, and speedily undergoes Its
transformation to q pupa, changing into per-
feet beetle, issuing from the ground in about six
teen days from the time of entering; there are
several broods In the season, and all feed on
the viDe the last In the fall remains in the ground
until spring. The perfect insect is usually of a
uniform steel-blue color, but many are greenish
or purplish, and Of a brilliant metallic appear
ance; antenne, eleven jointed, of moderate
length; thorsx and elytra impunetate; length,
from two to two and half lines; width. one
and half. 1t is an active insect; when ap-
preached, 1t will leap or fall to the ground and
there remain without motion. In warm sun
shine it flies readily; when the wheather is cold
and chilly is the best time to collect the beetles
and they are easily seen In consequence Of the
brillianoy of their colors; destroy by FIRE or
crushing. The eggs are not easily detected from
their minuteness; the larves should be carefully
looked for and removed. We know of no spe
cifc by which they may be driven from the vine;
dustipg with lime or ashes when the dew is on
the leaves, has not proved successful; lime.water
not white-wash-or whale oil soap, diluted
wi b water, may, If applied to the leaves, make
them distasteiul to the larve, and thus save the
vines. From analogy, we may consider that the
best course to adopt for stopping the increase cf
this insect, will nearly resemble that which s
most successful with its ally, the turnip flea bee.
tie; therefore, Swinging the vines with b1ine suf
fcienily strong to kill the lsrve without iDjnring
the foliage, may prove Of benefit; so may sprin.
king with SCOT, generally obtainable in cities
As the insect lives equally on the wild vines with
the cultivated varieties, all such vines in the
vicinity Of the viDeyard should be destroyed, so
that they cannot be used as nursery by the
beetle, and an unceasing war should be wsged
upon the insect at all times, and experiments
carefully instituted to discover the best methods
of destruction. rr.- -4...t. lre .....
This is the most Injurious Insect to the vine
in the wine growing districts Of America, and
with the increase Of vineyards Is evidently in
creasing In numbers; many persons In this VI
cinity nave suffered verp severely from it the
present season. Ohio Former.