Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-06-28
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The Colorado POtatO-Bug.
4 DISSERTATIONS oI rnr M

DESCRIPTION OF ruE BuG.
The Colorado potato.bug, as the insect is
popularity known, has commenced his rayages
in this region. 1t is more strictly beetle
and known to uaturalists as the DoryDlora
ocean hneota, so called from the fact that
the wings contain ten black longitudinal
stripes There is another insect almost ex-
actly similar in form, color and size to the
potato-bug, but chiefly found in the Southern
States, where they feed upon potatoes and
elephants.
SOMETHING OF TRAVELLER
The true Colorado.bug originated in the
Rocky Mountains, and has been gradually
making its way eastward. Its progress in this
direction has been estimated at the rate of ff.
ty miles year. DR.. Walsh, of Iowa, calcu.
lated in 1867, that the bug would reach the
Atlantic seaboard in 1880, but later observ.
ations show that they traverse the country at
double the speed he figured on, if not more
The probabilities are that the advance guard
Of the army of bugs will reach Western New
York this summer, aud start from that want
age ground early next spring In that case
next season will find them devastating the
fields as far east as the Hudson.
FECUNDITY AND HABIT.
The eggs are deposited by the female to the
number Of seven hundred according to DR..
Henry Schirmer) at intervals during forty
days, on the leaves Of the potatoes in some
what regularly arranged clusters. After the
lapse Of about six days they hatch into larye,
which feed upon the foliage of the plant about
seventeen days. They then descend to the |
ground, where they change into pupe at the
surface of the earth. The perfect beetle ap.
pears about ten to fourteen days after the
pup@ is formed, begins to pair in about seven
days, and on the fourteenth day ommonces
to deposit eggs, thus requiring about fifty
days from egg to egg again. The period
may, however, vary some according to the
state Of the weather and the abundance or
paucity of food when in the larvae state
From four to five broods are hatched out
during the season. The color of the eggs is
deep orange the Larvae are cream colored,
with a black head the first joint is light
colored. edged with black, and along the sides
Is double row of black spots the eggs are
black.
The Colorado potato-bug comes out of the |
ground in the spring when the potato.pant
begins to develop its leaves. 1t winters over
in the bug state, and comes out unimpregna.
ted. The eggs, to the number Of twenty-five |
or thirty, are deposited on the under sides of
the leaves
REMFDIEs AGAINST THEIR RAvAGEs.
A great many preparations have been in
vented to destroy this marauder on the po-
tato fields. The principal ingredient in all
is the powdered paint known as Paris green.
Its poisonous effect upon the plant is obvi.
atcd by the admixture Of other ingredients.
The Paris green, according to price, is more
or less pure. Unadulterated it should be
mixed with four, five or six times the quan.
tity Of -four, meal, ashes, calcined plaster
and lime. The more it can be diluted with.
out destroying its efficacy, 80 much the less
expensive will it be, and the less injurious
to the vines, and the less dangerous to the
operator.
Prof G. V. Riley, State Entomlogist, of
Missouri, states there is such demand for
an antidote that several parties in that and
other states have been preparing different
mixtures. Paris green, he thought, was a
part Of all Of them Preference was giyen
TO Hour as a material 10 mix with the green. !
as the bugs would eat it more readily. He
had recommended it two years ago. He had |
also tried carbolic acid soap, but found il |
difficult to get it of such strength that il
would kill the bug without njuring the vines
He had been asked how much -four should be
used with the green, and he replied from ten
to twelve parts was the best If they had
pure green they would mix it with twenty
parts of flour. As soon as the beetles or
Larvae eat the green, the work is done.
Every one must know that Paris green is
deadly poison. 1t is sold at different
prices, and If they did not take care they
would get very inferior article. Some.
times persons purchased the green, mixed il |
in preparation, and said it did not succeed.
and that was because they had an inferior
article.
There is no danger to be apprehended from |
the use OF Paris green unless il is swallowed. /
Children should not be allowed to play ia the
fields where they might inhale H. No in
jury results to the tuber from the sprinkline |
OF Paris green upon the leaves. The best |
time to distribute the preparation is when the
dew is on. Pinching of the eggs, of course,
is a speedy way Of destroying the bugs, but
this is impracticable in large fields.
In fact, the remedies proposed are hume.
rous, and every farmer can compound one for
himself Potato growers about Albion in
this state assert that common land plaster, al. |
though not speedy, is a sure cure for their
rayages. This acts also as fertilizer. Weak |
lime sPrinkled over the plants between sun.
down and dark is good remedy--the bugs
being mainly nocturnal feeders. Muscovy
ducks, Ohio farmers say, eagerly deyour the
insects. A handful Of sulphur boiled in two
gallons Of water has also proved eficacious.
Powdered helebore and SCOT have also served
as destroying agents. A farmer of much ex.
perlenee, wthal an entomologist, recommends
making one or more holes around the hill. |
with stick about two inches in diameter, and
shaking the bugs into it and this being the
season when the opposite sexes are attracted
toward each other, few bugs in hole form
decoy by which great numbers are collected
together. The hole should be from eight 10
ten inches in depth, which will prevent them
from making their escape. In this way i'm.
mense numbers will be destroyed before their
eggs have been deposited, and the terrible
nuisance, to great extent, abated. The
remedy seems to be simple one, and is worth
testing.