McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1913-06-20


caused many questions to be asked
regarding its life-history. The eggs
are laid by a moth about I of al
inch in length. They are usually
placed upon the flowers, buds or ten
der portion of the vines Of cucumbers
and cantaloupes. The eggs hatch il
from four to six days. The newly
Matched forms feed upon the leaves
and stems. They begin eating the
melons after the first moult and con.
tinue until they pupate. A round
hole is eaten in the center of the
cantaloupe; some of the center also
is eaten, and the whole melon is
ruined for smarket. In a year in
which these insects are plentiful they
mean fully Is per cent loss. The
pupa is formed in debris or in a fold
ed leaf and from this the mature
moth energies. There ale at least
four broods of this insect in thisstate.
They pass the winter in the pupa
stage above the ground, and emerge
very early in the spring into yellow
ish-brown night-Aying moth.
Remedies: Since the pupa passes
the winter above the ground it follows
that the destruction of all the vines
as soon as the crop is off, will pre-
vent many moths from emerging.
Deep blowing will also destroy many
of the wintering forms. 1t is also
advantageous to plant the cantaloupes
early. Experiments by Quaintance
and others prove that the squash
planted as catch crop works success
fully. The squash is planted so that
the eggs of the pickle moth can be
deposited in its bloom and vines
Before the young become grown all
the squash vines are destroyed.
THE SQUASH VINE BORER
The adult of this insect is one Of
the clear winged moths which meas
ure about II inches across the wing
The eggs of this moth are laid upor
all parts of the plants but most espe
cially upon the stems near the base
In from 10 to IA days the eggs hatci
and the young Immediately enter tht
main stem of the melon and eats it,
way through the stem causing th'
willing and dying of the vine. 1t il
plain to see that no poison could b
used in controlling the insect feeding
as it does on the inside of the vine
About the only methods Of contro
are cultural. The vines should be raket
up and destroyed after the crop il
gathered. In that .his insect passes
the winter in the soil near the vine
| deep fall and early spring plowinl
would destroy large numbers. Rota
tion is also an effective means. This
insect attacks squash more than any
other cucurbits and is especially fonC
of summer squash, and this is fre
lquently used as a catch crop with lat
er varieties. When the early squash
is highly infested the vines should be
destroyed thus killing many Of the
developing borers.
THE MELON LOUISE
| 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 il
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 beef
exceptionally bad throughout tn,
south this season. When weathe
conditions are dry and there is plent,
sunshine small bee as a parasite o.
these forms is an effective agent il
keeping them in control. AS treat
meht 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 40." Thre
pints of this solution mixed with thre
pounds of soap and diluted with 10
gallons of water and applied to tn
vines will control the louise. Tn
road dust with few drops of tul
pentine frequently busted over tn
vines will also help in controlling thi
insect.
THE SQUASH BUG
The squash bug, another piercin
. insect, is so familiar to every Oh