The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-06-24
THE NOxIoUS INSECTS OF
NORTH CAROLINA.

Cucumber Beetle a
lequin Bug--Po-
tato Bug.
by GERALD MCCARTHY, B. Sc, N. C. EXPERIMENT
STATION.
fifth PAPER.
Il FLEA BEETLE -HGH9cd Stra0tGt0,
and other species,
These little beetles are one of the
most destructive pests known to the
husbandman. Their appetites are In
Suitable and their habits omnivorous.
There are three species, n of which
attacks the cucumber chiefly and the
other the grape vine. The third, most
common and most destructive IS. II.
strioZato, which will eat anything
green, but above all other plants pre-
fers cabbage and turnips.
The flea beetles are black or blue in
color and about one tenth inch in
length. They are exceedingly spry
and Jump from the leaves on the
slightest provocation. Their dark
color and minute size serves to hide
them from view when upon the
ground. The quickness With which
they jump also prevents liquids from
being sprayed upon them. The best
remedy against their attacks upon
young plants is to dust upon the
plants and ground below air slaked
lime moistened with spirits of tupen-
tine. Against those which attack po-
tato vines, cabbages, etc in the field
the following method a be en-
ployed: Procure two strips of thick
cloth, preferably Canton IA mel, and
tack upon a light frame about Is
inches wide and SO inches long. Wet
the cloth with kerosene aud taking one
frame in each hand and holding one
on each side of a row o: WINS
or other plants, jar or beat the plants
slightly. The beetles will try to jump
to the ground but will alight upon the
cloth and be killed by the oil. The
woolly side of the cloth should be
kept uppermost and as much oil as it
will hold be kept on it. Care must
be taken that none of the oil drops on
the plants as it will burn the leaves it
touches,
THE CABBAGE CATERPILLAR-Pieris and
Pusio, several species.
The white and yellow butterflies so
common about gardens in spring and
summer are the parents of the green
and striped caterpillars which infest
the cabbage in the field. These cater
pillars are very destructive to cab.
bage, frequently completely riddling
the leaves. The best remedy is the |
kerosene emulsion sprayed OF splashed
or them. Paris green viii kill them,
but as the leaves of cabbage are eaten
by MAI and beast, a~rsenical poisons
should never be used upoo them. A
bounty of reasonable size paid to boys
and girls for the butterflies which are
the parents Of the caterpillars, will
probably be a satisfactory investment
for cabbage growers, This insect is
1--WE CT three brooded, and passes the
winter season in the dormant pupa
state.
THE STRIPED CUCUMBER BUG -Dta6r0taca
Vittata.
This pest is only too well known to
all who grow cUcUmbers, melons or
squashes. The Gu lumber bug passes
the winter unher trash piles, etc and
appears in the garden in spring as
early as cucumbers are planted. So
voracious is it that il does not always
wait for the plants to break ground,
but burrows into the ground and nips
off the young pl4ntle5 as soon as 1t
energies from the seed. The female
beetle lays her eggs on the roots of the
vines where the grubs after do much
damage without being suspect ed. The
pest is three or four brooded, and
young bugs may be found at any
time until frost. The bugs may be
poisoned by sprinkling the plants with
a mixture Of -four and Paris green
10 parts Of four to one Of Paris
green. Where only a small number
of plants require protection, the best
remedy is to place over the hill where
the seed has been sown a half hoop or
a bent wire with the ends sunk into
the ground. Over this lay a square
of gauze cloth covering the bottom
with soil SO that the bugs can not get
entrance without burro wing. For
large plantations the young plants
should be sprinkled with powdered
air slaked lime moistened with spirits
of ~turpentine. When the bugs be-
come numerous the kerosene emulsion
may be sprinkled upon them.
THE HARLEQUIN BUG.-Strachaa his
trG0naca.
This gaudy colored bug is of very
recent introduction into this State,
having first appeared in 1867, but has
become too numerous and very
destructive. 1t came from Mexico
or South America. These bugs pass
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