The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-05-30
The Colorado Beetle.

The Colorado Beetle.
There is no doubt that the vanguard
Of the great pest of ravsgers of potato
fields is upon us.
For several days pact u gardeners
have been perplexed by the appearance
upon their potato vices of an un-
known and destructive insect. which
upon exanioation proves to be the
Colorado potato beetle or entomology
cally speaking the Doryphora decem
Lsaeat0.
First discovered aud reported in the
far West, he hes reverted the course OF
human nigrasioa and turned his bead
eastward. travelling three HUNDRED and
sixty miles ia Elk years o sixty miles
pes anuan. which brought him some
wears .go to the Northern Atlantic
States. How Ne have escaped bis
aaseructive preseace tbas fer it is dah-
cult e cay. Bot be is here and some
idea may be formed of his possibilities
of mischief, when It Is stated on emi-
nent authority chat .stbe result of 3
single pair, If allowed to increase
sithout m~olestation, would in one
season amount to over sixty millions"
..The perfect insect or beetle IL de-
seribed BY the Ensomologiss Of the
Agricultural Department in Washing
ton. as .sabout half an inch in length.
Of ) thick oval shape, and Of = yellow
ish cream color, with ten black lines
running ls1gthuise down the wing
covers-fve on each side"
The female deposits her eggs to the
number Of from 700 to 1900 on the
young leaves of the potato. The
Larvsa. IN which form they appear in
our potato patches and commit their
rayages s.batch out in 3 few days and
feed from II to 20 days'' when. they
s.bury themselves in the earth where
they remain as papae and emerge in
10 or II days as perfect beetles to de-
poeit more eggs for q second genera
ton" There are said to be three
broods Annually in Missouri aud llli-
nois, the last brood remaining under
ground all winter and appearing as per-
feet beetles the following spring"
He is not sufficiently numerous az
vet to materially affect the spring crop
which will be matured before he is
reinforced by = second generation.
but he will assursdlv assail 10 multi
Piled force the fall crop.
The Larva in which state We see.
him is described as follows: "At 6rst
dark reddish brown, bat becomes paler
and brightens as it matares. The head
is black, and it has a ring Of black on
the frst segment Of its body and two
rows Of black spots % each side"
I have not succeeded in finding the
perfect beetle. and if any of the read
ers of this will leave a specimen in
your Office I viii be glad to see it. 1t
viii be recognized by the description
above.
Remedies.-Paris green or London
purple seem to be specifics and safe Of
use With prudence.
The authority from which l have
quoted says: ..In summing mp all the
evidence on the subject of remedies, it
appears that band picking, especially
very early in the season. when the in-
sects first appear, and before they have
had time to lay their eggs is highly
advantageous. and that the use Of
Paris green is recommended by the
best authorities; but that when using
this dangerous poison che greatest. care
should be taken when busting the
plants that zone of it is carried by the
wind on the person of the operator,
or on any peighbors fruit. vegetables.
or forage crops. and that it should be
mixed With at least ten to twelve parts
Of -four. plaster or some other material.
and that an overdose is apt to kill the
plants, besides leaving q residum in
the soil which may prove injurious to
the crops"
Mr.. Geo. H. Stabl. Of Quincy. ILL.,,
in a pamphlet on insects, &c, says
"Tbe best remedy for this pest is
Loodon purple or Paris green using
one pound of the poison to 200 gallons
of water and used as a spray:-Exch