Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-07-30
LEAF BEETLES
and CATERPILLARS
Infesting Beet Fields Of the
Arkansas Valley
DAMAGE LIABLE
TO BEET CROP

Consulting Agricultu -ist Winterl1aIter
Gives Important Information
to Enterprise Readers
There are now present in a large num-
ber of beet fields two insects which are
more or less damaging the foliage, one
belonging to the class of the leaf beetles
while the other belongs to the class Of
caterpillars.
The former is known as the large sugar
beet leaf beetle. and is found mostly in
beets grown on alkali land. The beetle
Is quite variable, both as regards mark
ings and size. the length being from one
fourth to one-third Of an inch. It is Of
oblong form. narrow in front, The color
varies from pale yellow to entirely black,
while the wing covers are more or less
distinctly striped. These beetles are
gregarious, sometimes occurring in
swaYms like the blister beetle. Their
brownish grey eggs are deposited in ir-
regular masses. usually on the under
sides of the leaves. The fact that they
appear mostly in alkali spots is an indi-
cation that such land should not be culti-
waited to beets at all, IL possible.
Two species Of caterpillars-th sugar
beet web worm and the beet army worm
arc present this season more or less
throughout the Valley. and SO far the
beet army-worm is predominating. Both
are the larvae Of small moth which have
been swarming more or less In beet
fields, along bitches and laterals and
alfalfa fields. during the last four weeks.
There are generally two generations Of
this brood. one appearing during the
month Of July. the second one about the
middle Of August. When these cater.
pillars are present in large numbers they
are liable 10 do serious damage to the
beet crop. destroying the foliage very
rapidly and thus retarding the growth Of
the beet and reducing the sugar con-
tents as a consequence Of the loss Of
foliage.
Beet growers should carefully examine
their fields for the presence OF these cat
erpillars, which in their early stage Of
growth are very small. and therefore are
easily overlooked until such time that the
damage to the crop becomes easily Wis
ible. when they usually achieve a size
when they are able to devour large areas
Of foliage in very short time. 1t is
quite frequently Of the utmost Importance
that beet growers protect themselves
against serious damage by spraying with
Paris Green. London Purple or White
Arsenate.
II the beetles or worms appear only in
small places in the field. dry spraying
will quite frequently protect the crop
from further damage. II the insects are
generally distributed over the field,
spraying by means Of a spraying machine
will be necessary.
For dry spraying take 10 parts Of -four
to one part Of Paris Green. according to
the size Of the spot you wish to spray
mix thoroughly. put in cheese cloth and
sprinkle over the area infested with beet
les or worms early in the morning while
the foliage is wet with dew. Spread
about a rod beyond the patch actually
infested in order to thoroughly protect
the balance of the field from further in
vasion from the infested spots. The
above mixture means to take one pound
Of Paris Green to 10 pounds Of -four. or
pounds Of Paris Green to 20 pounds of
-four. ETC.. according to the quantity re-
quired.
For wet spraying use Paris Green.
London Purple. or White Arsenic as fcl-
lows:
Use 2 pounds Of either Paris Green or
London Purple to 100 gallons Of water
and add pounds Of fresh lime for each
pound Of poison. The lime should be
slaked and strained to take out the Jumps.
Then use a nozzle that throws a fine
spray and do not continue the application
in one place long enough so that the
drops sprayed upon the leaves will run
together and flow off. carrying the poi
son with them. Paris Green or London
Purple are poisons,)
Put pounds Of White Arsenic and 8
pounds Of Sal-Soda together in a dish
and boil for 20 minutes IN two gallons OF
water and keep as a concentrated solu-
ton. Then in each 40 gallons Of water.
first slake 4 pounds Of lime and then add
slowly one quart Of the concentrated SOL
ution while the whole is being stirred,
The lime should be strained through
cloth to take out the Jumps.
The mixture is then ready for applica-
ton to be used as spray the same as
Paris Green or London Purple. (The
white arsenic Is deadly poison.)
W. X. WINTERHALTER,
Consulting Agrieulturist,
Rocky Ford. Colo. July 2s, 1909.