Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-07-25
agricultural.
The Colorado Beetle and Potato
Bag.

For several years our readers have
been familiar with descriptions Of this m
sect taken from the western journals, but
% long as it has remained at q distance,
there has been but comparatively httle
interest about Its habits or history. It's
entrance into New England, and approach
to our state, seem to require that We
should avail ourselves Of all the sources
Of information respecting IT within our
reach.
For dozen years It has made its head
quarters in Colorado, where it has sub
sisted upon plants Of the Solanum family
which includes the potato, tomato, egg
plant, night shade, thorn apple and winter
cherry, 1t has slowly but steadily moved
toward North and Eas;, and during the
present season viii probably be found in
every part OF the country there Ia remain
perhaps as an iuha5itant,
The beetle Is about half an inch in
length, and nearly the same in breadth,
rOund-backed and Of an oblong shapesolid
aud plump, with six icg, The head and
neck are rcdiSh yellow, notified with black
the body under the wings Is Of a dark
cream color, the belly reddish, the cover
OF the wings arc orange yellow with five
black strips upon each, from which their
name is derived, ten lined. DorW0rG
deccw i'HCQtq.l Durin. the winter It re-
mains concealed IN the earth. making It's
appearance in May or June or rs soon aS
the ground is warm feeding upon the
young potato plants aud dcpoSitius lis
eggs in clusters OF a dozen or two upon
the under side Of the leaves, and some
times the upper. The eggs are 4 bright
orange-rcd and quite large aud are hatch
ed in a few days. The beetle itself Is not
very destructive to the plant, but the
Larvae or grub which i, a short, fat, hump
back worm Of an orausc-rcd color, eats
all before 1t, grows very fast, and in about
q fortnight enters the ground in the pupa
state, to become finally a beetle. Each
female Is capable Of producing more than
= thousand eggs, and in the warm climates
of the South and West, three broods are
raised each season at the North probably
only two viii be maturcd Thus the
plant contains the insect in all It's stages,
and eggs and larvae and beetles may be
seen upon 1t 1t once.
As some persons have already announc-
ed that the Colorado beetle has appeared
on their premises, or had in previous
years, it Is important that they should
he informed that the Lady-bug has some
times been mistaken for that destructive
insect. The Lady-bug Is not only harm
less, but useful, and therefore to be spared
AS It destroys the eggs of the beetles
Its lary;e are long slender. lead-cciored.
With bright spots, entirely unlike those OF
the beetle. The pupe also which have
been mistaken for those of the beetle. aud
picked from the potato plants, should be
allowed TO remain-they are entirely dor
mant.
Like many other destructive pests. the
Colorado beetle has Its deadly enemies
Poultry, crows, skunks and score Of IN
sects and parasites wage war with it, and
1t Is to be hoped will get the upper hands.
As, however it viii not DO to put reliance
entirely upon these aids, resort must be
had 10 all available remedies.
In the gardens, and comparatively small
potato patches Of the North, it is found
that picking the beetle from the plants
on its first appearance prevents all subse-
quent trouble and that it Is not a great
or expensive undertaking. as it NAV read
lily be performed by children. The insects
and the leaves on which eggs are found
should be destroyed by being thrown into
the fire or hot water When the Larvae
appears and are soft and tender, they can
be easily killed by being brushed of in a
midday sun on the not grOund-some
farmers at the West prefer this 10 any
other method-the ground should be kept
free from weeds, and in loose, well
stirred condition, aud if the operation Is
not performed in a cool and damp day,
and Is repeated once OF twice, it Is quite
etfectua.
Paris green is, however, sure destroy
er OF the insect either beetle or larva. but
it does not Kill the ess. This Is a CON-
mon pigment used by painters, and when
pure Is nearly half arsenic, and therefore
deadly poison. 1t must be used with
extreme caution, As it may DO mischief III
inhaled, or brought in contact with wounds
or sores upon the skin Of the person haud-
ling 1t. When mixed with -four or meal
or any article Of food, for the purpose of
being scattered over the plants, it has
sometimes been carleSsly brought within
reach Of cows, colts and poultry, and thus
occasioned fatal results. TO those who
fear that it will injure the potato or future
crops, We have TO say that the inyeStiga-
tons Of DR.. Kedzie of the Michigan
Agricultural College, Of Prot. Cook Of
the y. ]. Geological Survey, and Of other
scientific men have established the fact
most eonclusively and satisfactorily that
no danger whatever can result from either
Of these causes. As there are several
qualities Of Paris green in the market it
will always be best to &c; the pure article
which sells for 80 or 90 cents 4 pound.
II Is said that the pure can be distinguish
vd from that which Is adulterated, by Its
lite even color. From one to three pounds