The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1913-06-20
DESTRUCTIVE MELON
/. ( CUCUMBER INSECT
THROUGHOUT STATE
THE, MOST DESTRUCTIVE IN
SECT is THE STRIPED Gu
cuMBER BEETLE.
Deep FLOWING IS SUGGESTED
Melon Louise Is Greatly Increased by
Cool Damp Spring Like the Pres
ent-A Preventive Solution--The
Squash Bug.
(By G. M. Bentley, State Entomolo-
gist and Plant Pathologist)

(By G.. M. Bentley, State Entomolo-
gist and Plant Pathologist)
Melons are attacked by a large
number Of different insects. those
having biting mouth parts and those
having piercing mouth parts, hence it
lis problem to treat melon insects
successfully with one treatment. Eow-
ever, the most destructive insects at
lacking melons, cantaloupes and GU
cumbers are the striped cucumber
beetle (corn root worm), the pickle
or cantaloupe worm, the squash vine
borer, the melon aphis and the squash
bug The first five members of this
group are chewing insects and the
alst two are piercing insects. One
might conclude that poison spray
like Paris green or lead arsenate
might serve the purpose Of controll-
ing the first group while an oil emul-
sion or some contact spray might
reach the latter. Due to the habits
of the molon insects this method of
treatment cannot be followed with re-
suits; both on account of the feeding
habit Of the young and the migrate
ry habits Of the adults.
The striped and spotted cucumber
beetles can best be controlled by pro-
tecting the plants from them by sim
pie and inexpensive covering Of light
material, such as cheese cloth. 1t is
only for short time that melons OF
the cucurbid group are attacked by
these insects, hence it Is in order to
do everything to encourage the rapid
growth of the plants by the use OF
quickly availale fertilizers. The writ
err has found that as secondary rem
edy very fine road dust in which a
few drops of turpentine has been add
ed, frequently busted over the melon
vines acts effectively in keeping
down these beetles as well as other
melon insects.
The melon louise, small piercing
insect, is especially bad in seasons
like the present. A mild winter, fol-
lowed by cool, damp spring, greatly
increases their development and it is
likely that this pest will rank among
the chief ones effecting the melons
this year. A similar insect on grain,
known as the green bug" has been
exceptionally bad throughout the
south this season. When weather
conditions are dry and there is plenty
of sunshine small bee as parasite
on these forms in an effective agent
in keeping them in control. AS a
treatment for controlling this louise
strong liquid of tobacco and soap So
luton, will, If applied early work ad-
mirably in controlling the insect
There is tobacco product in use to-
day known as "black leaf 49," Three
pints of this solution mixed with
three pounds of soap and diluted with
100 gallons Of water and applied to
the vines will control the louise. The
road dust with few drops of turpen-
tine frequently busted over the vines
will also help in controlling this in
sect"
The squash bug, another piercing
insect, is so familiar to every one that
description Is unnecessary. This in
sect may be controlled by spraying
with the tobacco and soap solution
mentioned above. Squash planted
among the cucumbers and melons
will act as bait for the squash bug
and may be thus used as a catch crop.