The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1902-05-31


blacken the leaves of the vines, pro- |
portion of the bugs are still immature.
These congregate in great numbers up |
on the unripe fruit, where they suck |
the juices through the thick skin. Many |
are thus able to become adult during |
the mild autumn days. The full grown |
insects begin leaving the fields soon |
after the first frosts and from that
time onward rapidly disappear.
For their long winter retreat they
conceal themselves beneath the fallen
leaves as well as stones and logs and
boards in the fields and woods. Board
piles seem to be a favorite resort, but
almost any sort of shelter may be
chosen. Here they remain dormant
until again enlivened by the warm sun
shine of spring.
The Injuries to the Plant.-The
squash bug was not the only pest
infesting our squash plants last sum-
mer. There We're present also the
squash root borer and a fungous dis
ease. The bug is present when the
| young plants appear above the ground
| A number of bugs attacking such a
plant cause it to wither and die. Later
when the plants have reached a fair
size the root borer and the fungus ap-
pear.
Squash Bug-The effect on larger
| plants is not general, but local. A num-
Der of bugs congregated on leaf will
cause that portion to dry up, and this
dead portion may vary from a pruinose
| a. IL ,,k,l1 l. ol-
The Root Borer.-A sudden whiting
and dropping of the plant character
ize the attack of this pest, which we
believe to be the larva of the striped
beetle (diabrotica). The plant may ap-
pear thrifty in the morning and be
Frustrated to the ground in the evening.
Fungous Disease.-When attacked
by this disease, the leaves begin to dry
up at the margins. The plant turns
dark green, similar to the first appear
ance of the vine when treated with too
strong a mixture of kerosene and wa
ter. Dried up blotches appear on the
leaves, and the plant dies without wilt
ing.
Natural Enemies.-The most impor-
tant natural enemy of the squash bug
in New Hampshire last season was a
little two winged fly about the size of
the common house fly. This is para
site belonging to the family of tach-
mid flies. The female fly deposits her
small, white eggs on the outside of the
body of the squash bug. In short
time the egg matches into a tiny mag
got that burrows into the body of the
bug and develops at the expense of the
tissues of it's host. The final effect of
the parasite is to weaken and kill the
host, but apparently the latter, when
female, often lays part or all of heI
$ eggs before being thus killed.
Remedies and Preventives.-It seems
0 to us probable that in the near future
: the squash bug will make the growing
: of squashes on a small scale so difficult
o that the crop will be chiefly grown by
i specialists who will devote such care
h and attention to their fields as to bt
:, able to bring their plants through al
S vicissitudes.
l. Excessive Seeding.-Most gardener!
s plant a great many more seeds o.
l. squashes. melons and cucumbers thar
s can develop properly in order to pro
S vide against the destruction of thu
e whole hill by the numerous enemie:
e present.
e Good and Clean Culture.-The squasl
It plant requires a deep, loose seed bee
# and a fertile soil. If these conditions
d are favorable. the plant shows great vi
It tality and thrift. In this case the at
e tacks of insect enemies are not so eff
t. fective. 1t is generally acknowledged
e that a system of clean culture on tn
st farm discourages insects.
g Hand Picking.-The process of col
y lecting the bugs by hand must appar
e emily be the main reliance of the gar
st dener against this pest for many year
n to come. The bugs may be collecte
J. from the vines or from the ground be
a meath them, from boards used as trap
n or from squashes planted between tn
y rows of the regular crop as trap crop
II for the bugs.-C. M. Weed and A. I
Couradi, New Hampshire Station.