Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-12-07
a Dangerous insect

present time, has don6 it's chief
damage to the crops of the southern
states 1t has proven particularly
destructive to the bean crop. 1t
mated through every southern state
and to prove as much of a menace
to our bean and other !eguminous
crops as the Colorado potato beetle
did some years ago to the Irish po-
tato crop of the United States. This
beetle is different from the other
members of the bean ladybird family
in that it lives by choice on vege-
tables. Practically all of the other
members of this family live on
aphids or plant-lice and SMALL soft
bodied larvae of other insects.
In general appearance the bean
ladybird beetle is hemispherical or
about quarter of an inch in length.
In color, it is a yellowish brown and
each wing case bears eight black
spots, three near the top where the
wings join the body, three about the
middle and two near the end.
This beetle came 20 us from Mex
leo. 1t is not a newcomer, and it
States since 1864. In 1883 it did it's
first serious damage to farm crops
in this country when it attacked the
wax bean fields of Colorado This
beetle is now we'll established in
western Texas, New Mexico and Ari-
iona. 1t has alse infested parts of
Kansas and Arkansas and some other
of our western states. 1t has ap-
parently made it's appearance in a
considerable section of Alabama rath-
er recently. It's depredations have
proven so widespread that an effort
is now being made through the es,
adjustment Of a state and federal
quarantine to completely eradicate
and destroy it before it gets foot
hold in Alabama. Just as certainly
as it establishes itself there it will
soon reach Georgia. There appear
to be no authentic reports on file in
dlcating it's presence or discovery in
this state as yet. 1t is for this pur-
pose that the present article is writ
ten because our farmers should
know about the danger of the states
becoming infested by this pest. If
they are on the watchout for it, it's
presence should be quickly discover
ed, and, in that event, it should be
Immediately reported in order that
some concerted effort may be made
to control it's spread.
This beetle literally devours all
Of the bean plant leaves, flowers and
growing pods during its larval and
pal damage is done to the foliage.
AS rule, it makes it's first appear
ance early in June or July. A new
brood or generation of beetles de-
Velop in September and October. 1t
passes the winter in the adult stage
The eggs are very small and are laid
IN large clusters on the under-side
of the bean leaves. The eggs are
yelloWish brown and readily recog-
n4zed. The larva is a little longer
when fully grown than the mature
beetle and is somewhat yellow in
color. Its body is well covered with
long, stout, branched spines. The
feeding is chiefly done on the upper
surface of the leaves.
The life history of this insect 3D.
pears to be about as follows: The
eggs are deposited during the early
part of June and UP until August /
on the under side of the leaves Of
the bean plant There are from if
teen to seventy-five eggs in each
many, as 1900 eggs. The larvae as
rule feed in colonies. The life
cycle in the warmer part of the year
covers a period of twenty to thirty
days: The eggs require from four
to nine days in which to hatch. The
fifteen to twenty-one days. The pu-
pal period varies from three to six
days. There are two broods annually.
There are two means of fighting
the beetles. The first is that known
as natural control. Up to the pres
ent time 1T has been ascertained that
the eggs, of this. particular beetle
are attacked and destroyed by three
kinds of beneficial or protective lady
bird beetles. Manipulating and
brushing from the plants, clean Gull
ture and early and late planting are
other means Of control which have
proven of considerable benefit. Ar
1fo11
effective though possessed of some
killing properties. They act as re-
pellents in the case of this beetle
Beetles which have hibernated should
be destroyed Immediately, their pres
ence is evidenced in early June. The
larvae can be destroyed in large
numbers by knocking them off the
plants. If this is done in dry wealth
er they will seldom be able to get
back to their favorite feeding
ground. Large numbers of this wee
vii pass the winter under pea vines
and trash which may have accumu-
lated on terraces or along fence
rows. The number Of weevils can
be largely reduced by burning such
trash in the late fall or early spring
The most effective work in fighting
this pest will be achieved through
sible during the alternating period
Effective work in fighting this pest
can be accomplished by planting
peans either extraordinarily early in
the spring or rather late in the sea-
son. This can frequently be ac-
complished by putting forth a little
special effort relative to the prepara-
ton Of the ground in the fall for the
spring crop. A fall crop Of beans
can often be produced after the two
generations Of weevils have been
matured. The one thing to be GER
. n q tn 60 10 t. \
in sufficient time to permit maturity
Of the beans before frost occurs. If
the practice of early and late plant
ing were carefully followed up in
communities where the bean lady
bird beetle has established herself,
number which could possibly survive
the winter season. This then con-
stitutes one of the cheapest and most
effective ways Of fighting this pest
Spraying for the destruction of the
weevil must be done with skill and
care. Under 10 circumstances can
Paris green be applied to the foliage
Of the bean crop. This is due to the
fact that the leaves of the bean plant
are injured by the slightest trace of
free arsenic. When this insect was
first met with in most localities, it
was supposed that the free use of
arsenical poisons would control it.
AS result, great damage was done
to the crop on many farms and plan
tations. There are arsenical poisons
which can be used on beans, how
ever, with impunity, provided certain
well defined formulas are used 1t
is safe to apply two pounds Of ar
senate Of lead, arsenite of zinc, or
calcium arsenate. If it first be dis
solved IN fifty gallons Of water or
Bordeaux mixture, a lighter dosage
will often prove quite as effective.
It is a saving and an. economy
therefore. to use it. Only the very
best quality Of arsenate should be
used for spraying the bean crop The
frequent complaints of injury by
burning when not over two pounds
to fifty gallons of water had been
used are undoubtedly due to the in
ferior quality Of much of the insec-
ticide material on the market at the
present time.
In conclusion. therefore, the fight
against the bean ladybird beetle
should be conducted on the follow
ing basis: First, if one has planted