The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-06-17
GRAPEVINE R~OOT-BORERS
These Insects Belong to the Family of
clear Winged Moths, Greatly Re-
.cmbling Bees or WaSps.
Ry F. r..

-tflNDSISbS ANSC W .
(By F. r.. BROOKS.) !
The grapevine rOOt-bOrer has been
,scognized as an enemy of the grape
., the United States for more than
any years. 1t is quite widely dis
tributed. having been observed as far
north and west as Minnesota and
Missouri. and south and east through
ohio. Kentucky, West Virginia and
North Carolina.
several writer's upon economic ento-
mology have given brief accounts of
ms insect, but it has not often at
tr,cted special attention, and has
scarcely been accorded notice in sew
oral Of the papers published relating
10 the insect enemies Of the grape in
the Eastern States. 1t is capable.
bowever. of doing serious damage to
prapeyines and the slight attention
which it has received in the past is
M doubt due in a measure to obscure
appcarance and habits of the insect
throughout the four stages that COM
nose it's life-cycle. So inconspicuous
IS the insect itself, and it's manner Of
working, that a vineyard may be suf-
fering greatly from it's attacks and
vet those who have the care of the
vines remain entirely ignorant of the
eluse Of the trouble. The eggs are
small. Of u dull color. and the female
~scatters them about in the vicinity of
The vines. The bOrers feed beneath
ths ground on the roots of old vines,
usually some distance out from the
base OF the roots. No chips or east
inCs are thrown to the surface to
direct attention to the injury which
il being done. The roots of one-year
and t~wo-year-Old vines are rarely at
tackled so hat in the work Of planting
cut vineyards the bOrer is not likely to
bc seen. The transformation from
larva to adult takes place within an
Earth covered cocoa that is hidden in
the ground, often six inches or more
from the root where the bOrerS feed
The adult moth flies by day, but in
size. color and manner of flight it sc
closely resembles some of the common
waSps that a close scrutiny is neceS.
Sary in order to make sure that the
insect under observation is a moth anG
not a wasp. AS a result of these
pecuiiarities the insect may bs
abundant in a locality and yet remain
unnoticed by grape growers.
Vines when attacked by the bOrer
do not often die as a direct result O
the injury sustained, but may become
So enfeebled that n annual growth
of bearing wood is meager and tn
yield of fruit very small.
The peculiar habits of this bore
make control difficult. 1t is by tn
thorough cultivation of vineyards tina
the greatest good is likely to be &C
complished in the way of reducing tn
rayages Of the insect. From tn
middle of June to the last of July tn
insects are Transforming from tn
borer To the adult stage within co
coons. which are located just be
meath he surface of the ground nea
the grapevines. II during this perio
the ground about the vines is thor
oughiy cultivated, most of these &C
coons will be destroyed. The cocoon
are usually found a foot or NOR
away from the vines, q fact that en-
abies the cultivator to reach most
them without working up entirely I
the vine. which Is sometimes difficu
To DO. AS a matter of course, cultivs
ton will give the vines Increased vfgO
enabling them the more readily
withstand and overcome the attack
OF the rOot-borers n other insects.
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