Our cultivators do not complain of these insects, and know but little of them, because the annual pruning which the vines undergo prevents their multiplication, as the Cocci can only live upon young wood, while its epidermis is still tender. They are however sometimes very abundant upon neglected vines; and in countries where the vine is only cultivated in greenhouses, they multiply extremely, whilst the other enemies of the vine are there unknown[1]. But the vines in greenhouses are not attacked by the same species of Cocci as they are exposed to in the open air. In the former situation they are attacked by the Coccus Adonidum[2], not by the Coccus Vitis. If, as has been asserted, this insect originally came from Senegal, it is not among the species treated of by the ancients, who also could never have distinguished from each other the various species of the Coccus, which is as much as can be effected by the practised eye of the modern entomologist, aided by a powerful lens, even since the beautiful and recent work of M. Boyer de Fonscolombe upon these insects. This skilful naturalist remarks with truth that there are no well-established limits between the Kermes and the Cocci, between the Gall-insect and the Progall-insects of Réaumur. He therefore makes but one genus of the Coccus and the Kermes; but this he subdivides into several sections, and the Coccus of the vine[3] belongs to the section which is composed of species which at the time of laying have naked bodies, without any trace of rings or members, and rest upon a very cottony nest. The Coccus Adonidum, or Kermes of the greenhouse, is also remarkable for the white and downy substance which transudes through its skin, and which gives it a mealy aspect.
The interpretation of the word Thola, Tholea, or Tholaath employed in the Bible, which we considered at the commencement of these researches, applies to the name Phtheir given to the Gall-insect by the author of the Geoponics. It will be recollected that the result of our long discussion upon this subject was, that Thola is employed in the Bible to signify not only a worm, vermin, an insect or larva of an insect, or an animal vile and despicable, but also an insect or larva of an insect which infested the vine, and another plant, the name of which we are unacquainted with, but which we know to have been a large tree, because it gave an extensive shade. Indications so vague would not
- ↑ J. Major, (Landscape Gardener,) A Treatise on the Insects most prevalent on Fruit Trees and Garden Produce, 1829, 8vo, p. 112.
- ↑ Coccus Adonidum, Fabr. Syst. Rhyngotor., 1803, 8vo, p. 307. No. 4. Major, as just referred to, p. 144, the Mealy-Bug.
- ↑ Coccus Vitis; Boyer de Fonscolombe, Ann. de la Soc. Enlom., vol. iii. p. 214. No. 14. Réaumur, Mem. Insect., vol. iv. p. 62. pl. 6. figs. 1 to 7. Fabr. Syst. Rhyngotor., p. 310. No. 4. Coccus vitis viniferæ.
