The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-06-02
Cucumber Beetle

Inc striped cucumber beetle is one
OF the most destructive insects on vine
crops, often killing the young plants
and seriously damaging the older. In
addition to the mechanical injury, it
spreads the bacterial wilt and cucum-
Der mosaic disease which may be very
destructive, particularly on cucumbers.
The beetles are not easily poisoned.
Control measures must be thorough.
Dust the plants, especially under the
leaves, with mixture of l pound of
calcium arsenate to 20 pounds of
gypsum. Burned gypsum is most salts
factory. This should be thoroughly
mixed by rubbing through fine screen
several times. Apply dust as soon as
the plants appear above ground. Keep
plants covered with the mixture as long
as the beetles are present. In the home
garden, the young plants are sometimes
protected by screening. Destroy gar
den rubbish.
Squash Bug
The squash bug, often called stink
bug, is destructive on squash and pump
kin in particular. Usually it is of no
Importance north of the Twin Cities.
1t is sucking insect which must be
killed by contact poison. Control is
difficult. Sprays strong enough to kill
the adults, injure the plants. The
young nymphs may be killed by spray
ing the stems and under sides of the
leaves with solution of fluid ounce
of 40 per cent nicotine sulphate to
gallons of soapy water. The mature
bugs will collect under old boards and
can be killed by collecting from under
the boards early in the morning and
dropping them in kerosene. Burn re-
fuse after harvest is completed.
Squash Borer.
The squash borer, which is the cater
pillar stage of moth, damages vine
crops by boring into the stalks or leaf
petioleS, causing the stems to rot off
near the ground. They are very diff
cult to control, but a large part of the
damage may be prevented by spraying
or times, at weekly intervals, with
a solution of l 1-3 fluid ounces of 40
per cent nicotine sulphate to gallon
of water. Watch along the stem of the
plants for the eggs which are red,
oval and about 1-25-inch long. Spray
first about one week after the eggs
are found. Usually only or feet
about the base of the plant need be
sprayed, but the coverage should be
very thorough in that area. In the
home garden, borers may be located by
the holes they make in the stem. Cut
them out with thin-bladed knife, and
heap the earth up over the wound.
If carefully done, little injury to the
plant will result. Eggs may also be
removed by hand.
Aphids and Thrips
Aphids (plant lce) attack most
vegetable crops to some extent and are
particularly bad on cabbage and related
crops and on peas. Infested spots
should be treated just as soon as they
appear. Aphids multiply very rapidly
in warm weather. To control them:
Cd Spray thoroughly with solution
of l gallon of water, Ia teaspoons of
40 per cent nicotine sulphate, and
ounce of soap just as soon as the in
sects appear and about every 10 days
thereafter. CD busting with mixture
containing per cent nicotine sulphate
is sometimes used. Nicotine dusts
should be applied in the heat of the
day. 80 Pyrethrum sprays (Evergreen)
are also good, but more expensive.
"a Destroy all refuse in the fall.
Thrips are very small insects, diff
cult to see, but whitish blotches show
plainly on the leaf where they have
been feeding. The plant may become
so badly infested that it becomes en-
tirely bleached, dries from the top
down, and dies. They attack cabbage.
beans, peas, etc., and are particularly
destructive on onions. Their control is
difficult but about the same methods