Note 102 — Chapter III · THE VITICULTURE OF NEW YORK

Grape-vine flea-beetle (Haltica chalybea Ill.).—The adult insects are shining steel-blue flea-beetles measuring about one-fifth of an inch in length. They live during the winter under the bark of the old vines or in rubbish in the fields. They emerge from their winter quarters during the first warm days of spring, and feed upon the opening buds and young leaves. Egg-laying begins late in April or early in May. The eggs are placed singly near the buds or upon the leaves and hatch in about ten days. The young larvae are dark brown in color but soon become prominently marked with black dots and patches. They are full grown in from three to four weeks at which time they measure about a quarter of an inch in length. They feed on the leaves devouring only the soft parts at first, but finally eating irregular holes through the leaves. When ready to pupate they go a short distance into the ground. The adults emerge during the latter part of June or early in July. They probably feed during all of the summer, finally seeking shelter for the winter as above indicated.

The vines should be sprayed with paris green, one pound to fifty gallons of water, just before the buds begin to swell or with some other arsenite. Much pains should be taken to make this application thorough. Later when the worms appear on the leaves, paris green may be applied at the usual strength, one pound to 150 gallons of lime and water, or combined with bordeaux mixture. Both upper and under surfaces of the leaves should be covered. Applications of arsenicals for the grape-vine fidia will help greatly to keep this insect in check.