The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-06-13

duce good results further north. In
the South. however. wher we'll 10
fined broods OF borers appear. It may
not be so efficient, but at least Is worthy
Of a thorough test.
The borer may be greatly reduced
in numbers by lightly narrowing the
infested fields in the fall. so as to
bring the cocoons to the surface where
they will be exposed TO the elements.
and then ploughing in the spring TO .
uniform depth Of at least six inches. 30
that The pupe will be prevented from
working their way to the surface.
Another cultural method which
tends to restrict the damage IL o
cover a small par; OF the vines, after
they have attained some length. with
earth SO hat secondary roots will be
sent out to support the plants in case
the main roo 10 injured by the borer.
Still another III is keeping the plants
In good condition. free from Other in
sects and disease and we'll nourished.
When the vines are so badly infested
as 10 be incapable OF bearing fruit
they usually die at once. and should
be promptly taken of the field and
burned AS voc A tho crop II ma
tured, the old vines should b
destroyed.
Cot the Pest Out 81 the Vince.
Tho Old time remedy of cutting the
borers out OF the vines. although la
borious, 10 useful II Is about the only
method open for employment after
the borers have entered tho vines. A.
several individuals often infest . single
vine, II is best to cut longitudinally 30
as not TO sever the vine from the root
stalk. The wound will heal more
quickly II covered with moist soil. The
location OF tho borer In tho vine may
be readily detected by tho accumula-
ton Of yellow excrement at the point
where II Ia working.
Tho parent Of this insect is Q beau
tiful medium sized moth. according
to tho United States Department Of
Agriculture Farmers Bulletin, No. SOS.
The fore wings are Opaque, lustrous,
olive brown In color. with metallic
green ~extremities, and extend from
less thar an inch to nearly an inch and
a half. The hind wings are trans
parent and ve!ned. the abdomen II
conspicuously marked with orange or
red. black and bronze, and the hind
legs are fringed with long hairs. These
moths are not generally recognized as
the parents OF this perniclous borer..
Unlike most moths they fly only
during the daytime, In the heat Of the
day Tnuya raj fuJtltuht ,h.., $780,
less active n may be seen sitting
quietly or the leaves Of their host
plants. The time Of appearance Of the
moth varies with the locality and sea-
son from early juno to the middle Of
July,
A single moth may lay Upward of
200 eggs, depositing an egg In each
plant hill. The eggs hatch In six to
fifteen days and the larv@ are full
grown in about a month. Tho larva
is a soft, whitish, grublike cater
pillar, with small, dark head, attains
a length OF about an inch and may be
seen on vines In different stages of
development from mid July until Oc-
tobcr or November. After attaining
maturity the Larvae desert the stems.
enter the earth TO a depth OF one to
two inches. and form their cocoons, In
which they transform to the pupa
stage of their life cycle.
The pupa, about " OF an inch in
length, is Of shining mahogany brown.
With a hornlike process on its head
It cuts It's way out OF the cocoon and
then crawls to the surface OF the
earth, where II becomes a moth. The
number OF broods which develop In
one season varies with the locality,
but the squash vine borer Is gener
ally conceded to he single brooded
north Of Long Island.