The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-07-17
The colorado BeetIe and POTATO Rup.

TUT several years our readers nave been
familiar with descriptions of this insect taken
from the western journals, but so long as it
has remained at a distance, there has been
but comparatively little interest about its
habits or history. Its entrance into New
England, and approach to our state, seem to
require that we should avail ourselves of all
the sources Conformation respecting it with
in our reach.
For dozen years it has made its head
quarters in Colorado, where it has subssted
upon plants of the Solanum family, which
includes the potato, tomato, eggplant, night
shade, thorn apple and winter cherry. 1t
has slowly but steadily moved toward North
and East, and during the present season will
probably be found in every part of the coun-
try there 10 remain. perhaps as an inhabi-
tant.
The beetle is about half an inch in length,
and nearly the same in breadth, round-backed
and Of an oblong shape, solid and plump,
with six legs The head and neck are red
dish yellow, notified with back-the body
under the wings is of dark cream color. the
belly reddish, the covers of the wings are
orange yellow with five black stripes upon
each, from which their name is derived, ten
lined. (Doryphora deccm Hneata.) During
the winter it remains concealed in the earth,
making its appearance in May OR June or as
soon as the ground is warm; feeding upon the
young potato plants and depositing its eggs
IN clusters of dozen or two upon the under
side OF the leaves, and sometimes the upper.
The eggs are bright orange-red and quite
large and are Matched in few days. The
beetle itself is not very destructive to the
plant, but the larvae or grub which is short,
fat. hump-back worm of an orange-red color,
eats all before it, grows very fast, and in
about fortnight enters the ground in the
pupa state, to become finally beetle. Each
female is capable of producing more than a
thousand eggs, and in the warm climates of
the South and West, three broods are raised
each season; at the North probably only two
will be matured. Thus the plant contains
the insect in all its stages, and eggs and
Larvae and beetles may be seen upon it at
once.
AS some persons have already announced
that the Colorado beetle has appeared on
their premises, or had in previous years it
is important that they should be informed
that the Lady-bug mas sometimes been mis-
taken for that destructive insect. The Lady
bug is not only harmless, but useful, and
therefore to be spared-as it destroys the eggs
OF the beetles. Its larvae are long, slender.
lead-colored, with bright spots, entirely I'M
fEncQ n n ole
which have been mistaken for those of the
beetle, and picked from the potato plants,
should be allowed to remain-they are en-
tirely dormant.
Like many other destructive pests, the
Colorado beetle has its deadly enemies
Poultry, crows, skunks and score OF insects
and parasites wage war with it, and it is to
be hoped will yet get the upper hands. As,
however, it will not do to put reliance en-
tirely upon these aids, resort must be had to
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 subsequent
trouble; and that it is nof great or cxpen-
sive undertaking, as it may readily be per-
formed 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 appear, and are
soft and tender, they can be easily killed by
being brushed off in midday sun on the
Lot ground-some farmers at the West prefer
this to any other method-the ground should
be kept free from weeds, and in a loose
well stirred condition, and if the operation is
not performed in cool and damp day, and
is repeated once or twice, it is quite effectual.
Paris green is, however, a sure destroyer
of the insect either beetle or larva, but it
does not kill the egg. This is common
pigment used by painters, and when pure is
is nearly half arsenic, and therefore a
deadly poison. It must be used with ex-
treme caution, as it may do mischief if in
hailed, or brought in contact with wounds
or sores upon the skin of the person
handling it. When mixed with -four or
meal or any article of food, for the
purpose of being scattered over the plants,
it has sometimes been careessly brought
within reach of COWS, colts and poultry, and
thus occasioned fatal results. To those who
fear that it will iDjure the potatoes or future
crops, we have to say, that the investigations
OF DIR. Kedzie of the Michigan Agricultural
College, of Prof. Cook of the N. ]. Geologi-
cal Survey, and of other scientific men have
established the fact most conclusively 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 get the pure
article, which sells for 40 or so cents a pound.
1t is said that the pure can be distinguished
from that which is adulterated, by its fine
even color. From ode to three pounds is
sufficient for an acre.
The common practice has been, to apply
this substance dry, mixed with other fine ar
ticles, such as wheat or rye flour, corn meal
common or damaged kind will answer
plaster, wood or coal ashes, lime, Spanish
white or dry earth. 1t can be used in the
different proportions of one part Paris green
to from 25 or so parts of the above SUBJ
stances. Mix thoroughly, but not with the
hands. Take a common tin can, remove
one end, fill with the mixture and then GOV.
er it with thin gauze or muslin, or with fine
wire or netting, then attach broom handle
and always keep to the windward in apply
ing to the plants, so as to protect the lungs
against its admission. A light busting is
sufficient, and is more effective if applied
when the plants are wet with dew or rain,
and when the wind does not blow.
The ifollOwinp method which is Yaoon,.
mended by persons who have tried all ways,
seems to us the best. Mix the poison with
water, tablespoonful to pailful; and then
apply to the plants with small hand-broom,
or from the fine nose of watering pot. AS
it is not soluble in water, and only diffused,
and as II ia heauu and Snttlns II must