South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1874-05-22
The Colorado Potato Bug.

The Colorado potato bug, which has for seye-
raj years past made alarming ravapes 10 the Do
ato crops OF the western section Of the country.
has made It's appearance in myriads in this sec
ton, and commenced operations on the early no.
'ato vines Some forty years ago. as we learn
rom the Seientife american, sit was known in
tue Rocky Mountains, where ii seemed 10 be in
d'genous, feeding upon the wild potato. When
'he common tuber was introduced in that region,
the beetle soon attacked it aud spreading from
one held to another, in 1859 il had reached a
point one hundred miles west of Omaha. In
1851 1t invaded Iowa, aud, crossing the Missis-
sppi in ls64-5, il has since proceeded eastward
at the rate Of about sixty miles per year; SO that
II will probably reach the Atlantic, unless some
means be found for its determination, during
1873.
Professor Hail. of Chicago, state that the
beetle lays its eggs on the under side OF the po-
ta'o leaf. These are speedily hatched The lar
va, when full grown, is over half an inch long,
very thick in the middle, and taperiay towards
headand tail. 1t is of pale yellow color, often
dusky or freckled the back with small black
ish dots, and along each side are two rows Of
large black dots. The legs are black, and the
head black and shining.
'The mature insect, the beetle itself is nearlv
half an inch long and quarter of an iuch wide.
Its shape is oval, very convex above aud 4 l; be-
meath OF a hard crustaceous texture, smooth aud
shining, and of a bright straw color. the head
and thorax being sometimes tawny yellow; head
and thorax marked with black spsts the wing
cases with black stripes arranged loogitudnally,
five on each case. The antennr twel se-i Joint
ed--the first five joints are pale or tawny yellow,
the remaining joints black, the last joint being
small, and sunk into the penultimate one. The
legs are tawny yellow, the hips, knees, aud feet
being usually black. 1t requires less than
month to pass from the egg to the beetle state.
"Where the bug once gets footing, it speed
lily destroys the entire crop. 1T is believed TO ef
feet all its transformations in fifty days, so that
a'single pair would if unmoles ted, produce sixty
millions Of progeny in a single season Various
modes of preventing its ravages have been sug-
gested. Brushing or SIN liking the larv;e from the
haulm into vessel is sometimes tried, but this
is n laborious and dangerous operation. Dust
ing the leaves with white hccborc pow der is an
effective remedy when it is we'll done-the pow
der must, however, he freshly ground, as il loses
its efficacy when kept too long. Paris green is
also recommended, but both powders are irritat-
/ ing to those applying them, while the latter is
extremely poisonous. Birds. it is said, will not
destroy the bugs, rs the carnations from their
crushed bodies are noXious even to human be
ings, ard, it is said have causeG several deaths.
The symptoms resemble those caused by The bite
of the rattlesnake The beetle has several insect
enemies, especially varieties Of lad ylird
which prey upon its eggs and Larvae.
! y want to buy produce Of all kinds either in
large or sm'l quantities. VIII pay Cash, or
what at my prices is better, Store Goods. f.
f. CurI1z