INSECT NOTES. 1 37 



fields kept clear of it by adequate spraying and, especially late 

 in the season, certain fields given over to its ravages with appar- 

 ent indifference. 



Tomato Flea Beetle. Probably more serious injury to the 

 potato vines is inflicted by the common tomato flea beetle, 

 Epitrix cucumeris, than is generally credited to this insect by 

 potato raisers, as it is found upon the leaves during the whole 

 season, often in enormous numbers, and the punctured and 

 riddled leaves cannot of course do full duty in such a condition. 



Smartzceed Flea Beetle. In addition to these two fore- 

 going omnipresent pests, the Aroostook fields possess some 

 more distinctive features. About the middle of September the 

 smartweed flea beetles, Systena hudsonias were even more 

 numerous than the smaller species. Both at Caribou and Houl- 

 ton they were especially abundant and a potato leaf untouched 

 by them could scarcely be found. 



Cosmopcpla carnifex. A pretty black and red bug, Cosmo- 

 pepla carnifex, content before the advent of the potato to feed 

 upon tender poplar shoots, and mint and buttercup stems, has 

 shown no hesitation in accepting the new feeding grounds. 

 By way of illustration it may be cited that on Sept. 12 at Caribou 

 II of these bugs were found with their beaks deep in a single 

 potato stalk. The bugs looked healthier than the stalk. 



Pcntafoiiia jnniperina Linnc. This large green bug, not un- 

 common in the State upon evening primrose, was found upon the 

 potato, at Caribou July ii, where it was accused of wilting 

 the stalk. 



Tarnished Plant-Bug. The tarnished plant-bug, Lygus 

 pratensis, of evil reputation everywhere, is guilty of various 

 annoyances in Maine. In some parts of the State, pear trees 

 suffer through serious attack of the swelling leaf and flower buds 

 in the spring. In a second the aster buds are "buttoned" by this 

 bug so that "no perfect flowers can be obtained for sale." From 

 a third, complaints accompanied by tarnished plant-bugs, state 

 that all of many dahlia blossoms are deformed, — opening feebly 

 only on one side. At Portland they were thick upon celery. 

 The adults of this species can be startled from goldenrod 

 blossoms almost anywhere in the State. It is not surprising 

 to find such an adaptable insect taking without question the food 

 offered it over thousands of acres of potato vines. About the 

 middle of September different fields over a stretch of 7 miles 



