Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1877-04-19

THE CoLoRApo BEETLE.-A cores
pondent Of the Massaehusetts PloagAmun
gives the following account of the Col
orado Potato Beetle, its history and
habits:
"In the year 1924, il was found in
Upper Missouri: from then to the year
1889 il had spread eastward and reached
a point one hundred miles west Of Oma-
ha City. in Nebraska. In 1861, il in
vaded Iowa; gradually, in the next three
or four years, spreading eastward over
that State. In 1861 and 1865, it crossed
the Mississippi, invading Illinois, aud
pushing eastward at the rate of about
fifty miles a year. In 1869, its pres
euce was reported in Ohio. Eariv in
the summer of 1874, it had made its ap-.
pearance on the Atlantic seaboard, aud
was reported during The year from sew
eral parts of Connecticut, New Jersey.
New York, PENNSYLVANIA, Delaware,
Maryland and Virginia. Its injuries
also increased in its native home. Du-
ring the year 1876, the insect swarmed
in most OF the New England States, and
especially on the seashore. II has ex-
tended north around Montreal, and was
especially abundant as far as Trois Riv-
,eres: while in its eastern progress i.
has overrun Massachusetts,, Vermont
and New Hampshire, and extended
some distance into Maine. As the larva
is sluggish and never leaves the pisnt
from which il is hatched, except in
quest Of more food, until il i> ready 10
pupate, all the Journeys of this insect
are necessarily made in the perfect or
beetle state, by means OF the ample
rose-colored wings, which, when the
insect is at rest, are compactly folded
up beneath the striped wing-cases. It's
spread, however. over the more popu-
lous portions Of the country. is not TO be
attributed to its powers OF light alone.
II undoubtedly avaiis itself. to no in
considerable extent, Of every means of
transportation afforded TO other travel
lers, and often got lift on the eastern
bound trains, and most probably crossed
the more barren plains bordering its na-
tive confines through mans direct agen-
cy, i. e, by being carried. There is
possibility that in some instances ii NAV
have been carried in the egg state on
living plants, or in the pupa state in
Jumps of earth: but these modes OF tram
sit, If at all, have necessarily been ex-
ceptional. Let it not be understood
that this insect in its onward spread. or
march, ever entirely quits aay district
where it has once attained foothoid.
This idea OF its itinerant character seems
very generally 10 prevail, and great
many people labor under the impress
sion that soon after its advent, this
dreaded foe to the potato will ofits own
accord take its leave as suddenly as il
came-that, Ike every other dog, il
viii have its day. |, may and very
generally does prove more injurious
during the first two or three years ofits
advent than subsequently,. From care
full observation, | am confident in saw
ing, the wetter the season. the less
damage is done BY them.
"As 10 the method Of destroying, md
getting potato fields rid of them. am
of the opinion tina. the process Of pick
ing and burning on a pile of brush or
straw, mot scald,ng them, Is the cheap
est and surest, as, in this way. you have
the chance 70 p,ck of also the leaves
with the eggs on il at the same time.
From careful obserr alton. / have found
tha, the female begins 70 lay her egg
on the under side of the leaves a. soon
as the potato plants appear above the
ground. The eggs are oval, OF trans
lucent dark orange color. in clastcfs Of
from ten to forty. The lsrys are
hatched in less than 9 week, AID are at
first OF dark Venetian red, becoming
lighter and acquiring double row Of
black lateral spots as they approach ma
snrity.'