I'm having trouble re-finding info on the insect that lops off grape vine
shoots. The one where he chews a ring around around it, then goes up the
shoot a few more inches and cuts the whole damned thing off. And why does
this critter do this? In any event, it's frustrating to see my 2nd year
grafted viniferas receiving this setback.
Ken

Ken Anderson wrote:

> I'm having trouble re-finding info on the insect that lops off grape vine
> shoots. The one where he chews a ring around around it, then goes up the
> shoot a few more inches and cuts the whole damned thing off. And why does
> this critter do this? In any event, it's frustrating to see my 2nd year
> grafted viniferas receiving this setback.
> Ken
>
>
Ken,

Research the "Grape Cane Girdler" . You've described its modus operandi
to a tee. They cut two rings, a couple of inches apart, and lay eggs
inside the piece between, which eventually breaks off & falls to the
soil. They are said not to do any significant damage, as the cane
readily recovers, but I have seen where they cut off a cluster or two. I
don't spray for them, but I do break off the egg-carrying pieces and
remove them from the vineyard. Note that I have only 50 vines, not 50 acres!

--


Mike MTM, Cokesbury, New Jersey, USA

"MikeMTM" > wrote in message
s.com...
> Ken Anderson wrote:
>
> > I'm having trouble re-finding info on the insect that lops off grape vine
> > shoots. The one where he chews a ring around around it, then goes up the
> > shoot a few more inches and cuts the whole damned thing off. And why does
> > this critter do this? In any event, it's frustrating to see my 2nd year
> > grafted viniferas receiving this setback.
> > Ken
> >
> >
> Ken,
>
> Research the "Grape Cane Girdler" . You've described its modus operandi
> to a tee. They cut two rings, a couple of inches apart, and lay eggs
> inside the piece between, which eventually breaks off & falls to the
> soil. They are said not to do any significant damage, as the cane
> readily recovers, but I have seen where they cut off a cluster or two. I
> don't spray for them, but I do break off the egg-carrying pieces and
> remove them from the vineyard. Note that I have only 50 vines, not 50 acres!
>
>
Excellent. Thanks. First hit was the Cornell site with info that was right
on the money. I went back out to the vines (I have 50 exactly, also) and even
found two of the insects breeding. Little buggers, they are. I brought in
the broken off stems and, using my loupe, could also see the little pockets
where the eggs are laid, though I couldn't distinguish them. I also found
this guy on the underside of a leaf:
http://users.adelphia.net/~aken75/
What's up with that!
Ken

Ken Anderson wrote:

I also found
> this guy on the underside of a leaf:
> http://users.adelphia.net/~aken75/
> What's up with that!
> Ken
>
>
Ken,

That resembles a tomato hornworm, the kind that chomps on your tomato
plants & turns into a Sphinx Moth. A little different in appearance,
though, but probably similar in habit & control. When I see leaf damage
or frasse, I look for the culprit & remove him. BT spray is a good long
term solution for these kinds of worms.

--


Mike MTM, Cokesbury, New Jersey, USA