Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-07-22
THE COLORADO BEETLE.
Its RnvnHes Among Connecticut Potato
Fields-Prospccl Of nm Almost Total De-
struction of the Potato Crop.


Fields-Prospccl Of nm Almost Total Dc.
| struction of the Potato Crop.
A Connecticut correspondent of the
New York Herald gives the following
description of the terrible potato pest
The insect pest, known as the Colorado
beetle, or potato bug, and which, by its
deadly sting and general ravages. came
so near verifying the prediction of a po-
tato crop seriously damaged, and market
price of the peoples favorite esculent
advanced, is again on Connecticut soil
in such numbers as to render it certain
that, unless some great counteracting
influence is exerted, the general crop
will be almost totally destroyed. The
early varieties of the potato, except in
instances where means have been taken
to kill the bugs, are among the worst
treated. Instances are numerous in the
southern and western portions of the
State where the rows of potatoes in
some fields are so loaded with bugs that,
seen from q distance, the eye can dis
Germ the difference in color of the plants
as compared with other portions Of the
same field. The kind of soil, whether
sandy, like that surrounding the city,
or loamy, as in Fairfield and Litchfield
counties, seems to have no perceptible
effect on the insect' movements, but
everywhere-in the carefully hoed
patch of the laboring man, as we'll as in
the broad acres of the thrifty farmer
the insects terrible work goes on.
The beetles are of three kinds. The
largest and most formidable resembles
the common bug known as the rose bug
and familiarity called the June or lady
bug. It is of the same brown color,
and in addition to the little black stripes
on the wings is distinguished by dark
colorcd dots in rows ON either side of
the body below the line of the wings.
The head is many times smaller than the
head, but the poisoned bill which that
head contains executes its deadly
work with amazing rapidity. A sort of
independence of and stolid Indifference
to all that is going on about him char
acterizes this bug, and if he happens
to be brushed from his resting
place by the hand or by the winds
breath, he Immediately RECEIVERS his
equanimity, and when, as it appears to
him, no one is looking, he ascends the
potato stalk and proceeds to business
again. The i'll effects which 10000 of
these desperate workers in one acre will
cause can, without much figuring, be
determined.
The second bug of the same family,
and very near of Elm, is favored with
wings, which he uses to advantage in
flying from plant to plant, as if in the
exercise Of a superintendent's duty.
Wherever he bites the potato stalks die,
and that promptly. His activity, credi-
table to the beetle family, is of the
greatest annoyance to the farmer, who,
while he can hope for better things so
long as the pest SIMPLY preys upon the
leaves as they put forth, must despair |
when bite which strikes death at the |
root takes place. In color, ss compared |
with the first named, there is little to
distinguish them, but in size, being |
smaller, they move quicker and accom-
plish more work in q given space of
lime. The third bug, like the common
lechered fly, breeds upon the potato
plant, and has the advantage over his |
coworkers in that when one is taken
from the ranks operations are not him
dered, for, to borrow the expression of |
a discouraged Fairfield county farmer:
sc If one bug is killed 10000 fighting
bugs will come to the funeral" 1t is
not infrequent to zee each of these three
varieties Of bug in one field.
In Norwalk the farmers declare their |
,rops about ruined, that there is little
nope except from potatoes planted late.
In Fairfield, some planters have boldly
vet out to combat the common enemy,
not only by the use OF poisoned pow
lers, but by the use of brushes and pans.
One of the curious sights of that town
It this time is the farm hand, with brush |