to determine the synonymy of the various species of the Lepidoptera more particularly injurious to the vine, which I have found mentioned in the works of naturalists, travellers, and agriculturists, I have had recourse to the skilful and practised eye, and the judicious criticism of M. Duponchel, one of the most accomplished lepidopterists of Europe.
From an attentive examination of this subject we conclude that, with the exception of those which are occasionally found upon the vine, as well as upon other plants, without producing much injury, and of which we shall treat in the following sections, all the species of Lepidoptera which may be considered as particularly detrimental to the vine are reduced to the four following, all producing caterpillars which envelop themselves in leaves, and to which may equally be applied the ancient names of Involvulus and Convolvulus. In fact we cannot possibly suppose that the ancients made observations sufficiently exact to distinguish differences which the moderns themselves, notwithstanding the extended inquiries lately made upon the subject, have great difficulty in proving.
The first of these species is that which was observed by Bosc, and which he names Pyralis Vitis; Fabricius has described this insect under the name of Pyralis Vitanu, from the specimen in Bosc's collection. For reasons, unfortunately too decisive, which we shall presently allege, we shall not preserve either of these names: we name it Pyralis Danticana, from Bosc's second name Dantic, the name Bosc having been employed by Fabricius in his description of another Pyralis which he calls Pyralis Boscana. The second species is the Procris ampelophaga of Duponchel, Bayle, and Passerini, the Procris Vitis of Boisduval. The third species is the Tortrix Roserana of Frölich, the Cochylis Roserana of Duponchel and Treitschke, and the Tinea ambiguella of Hübner. The fourth is the Tortrix Heperana of Treitschke and Duponchel, the Pyralis fasciana of Fabricius.
The caterpillar of the Cochylis Roserana, mentioned by Fölich as causing great devastations in the vineyards near Stuttgard, has not been described by him or any other entomologist that I am acquainted with. There remains then the Pyralis Danticana[1], the ampelophaga[2] of Bayle and Passerini, and the Fasciana, the destructive effects of which upon the vine cannot be called in question. The caterpillars of the
- ↑ Pyralis Vitana, alis fusco virescentibus; fasciis tribus obliquis fuscis marginalibus. Bosc Dantic, Mém. de la Société d'Agriculture, 1786, for the summer quarter, p. 22. pl. 4. fig. d. Pyralis Vitis, Fabricius, Entom. Syst., vol. iii. p. 2, pl. 249; A.J. Coquebert, Illustratio Iconographica Specierum Insect, quæ in Musæis Parisinis observavit, J. C. Fabricius, duas 1. tab. 7. fig. 9.
- ↑ Procris ampelophaga, C. Passerini, Memoria supra duo Specie d'Insetti nocivi. Zigæna ampelophaga, Bayle-Barelle, Degli Insetti nocivi al Uomo, alle Bestie, al Agricoltore; Milano, 1824, pl. 1. fig. 7 to 12.
Schmetterlinge von Europe, vol. viii. p. 280 and 281. No. 8. Cochylis Roserana alis anticis argenteis ochroleucis nitidis, fascia media intus angustiore fusca.
