214 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



7-8 EDWARD VII., A. 1908 



spread in company. The common species, as a rule, in the United States preceded to 

 some extent the 12-spotted form ; but in Western Ontario this rule seems to have been 

 reversed in most instances. So-far, however, the 12-spotted form has not appeared 

 at Ottawa. 



Remedies. — (1.) Dusting with lime. The most effective remedy is probably the 

 destruction of the larvse by dusting the plants systematically every three or four days 

 with fresh air-slaked lime, which kills all those with which it comes in contact. (2.) 

 Poisoning. Active poisons, as a mixture of Paris green and flour, or, better, Paris 

 green mixed with the lime mentioned above, and dusted through the planta, will kill 

 not only by contact with the larvae, but will destroy both them and the perfect beetles 

 which eat the poisoned foliage. (4.) Beating. Beetles and larvae may be beaten from 

 the old plants into nets or broad pans containing water and coal oil. Nets made especi- 

 ally for the purpose are most convenient. The larvae may also be brushed off the 

 plants v/ith a stick, and, if this is done in the middle of a hot day, it is claimed that 

 few will be able to get back again. (5.) Young chickens and ducks, when available, 

 are very useful in eating the beetles when they first appear in spring. 



As the perfect beetles appear early in spring and feed and lay their eggs in large 

 numbers upon the young shoots, early cutting not only of the heads when fit for the 

 market, bvit also of the small shoots which are of no use for that purpose, should be 

 practised. In this way many of the larvae are prevented from hatching, and the num- 

 bers of the pest to that extent reduced. When the 12-spotted Asparagus Beetle is 

 known to be present, the berry-bearing plants should be cut off and burnt before the 

 berries turn red so as to destroy the contained larvae. 



The Eed Turnip Beetle, Entomoscelis adonidis, Pab. — This showy scarlet beetle 

 which is two-thirds the size of the Colorado Potato Beetle, and has three black stripes 

 down its back, is now becoming well-known to the settlers on the prairies and in Bri- 

 tish Columbia. As the prairies are more settled up and the weeds belonging to the 

 Mustard family become scarcer, there is every probability that the depredations of 

 this insect upon cultivated crops will become more noticeable. Specimens were sent 

 in last season from, several places in Manitoba, the Northwest and the interior of 

 British Columbia. As a remedy, dusting the plants with Paris green and flour (1 to 

 50) answered well. A rather severe outbreak at Fort Ellice, Man., is recorded by Mr. 

 Louis Worms, as follows : — 



' I reported to you in the spring of 1904 the depredations of the previoiis year in 

 my garden at St. Lazare by the Red Turnip Beetle. In 1904 my garden was inun- 

 dated in spring, and I only finished sowing my seeds in the beginning of June. Dur- 

 ing that year I did not notice any appreciable injury done by insects. It was quite 

 otherwise in 1905. On the same piece of land which had been used as a garden for the 

 two preceding years, I put out in the beginning of June, and in excellent condition, 

 450 fine plants of different varieties of cabbages. They took well, but I soon noticed 

 that the leaves were much cut up and covered with beetles. The strongest plants 

 resisted and in the end gave me a poor crop of about 50 imperfect cabbages. A bed 

 of ]xohl-rabi was likewise checked in its growth by the same insect. Another field of 

 white turnips about a quarter of a mile off were also much injured, and I was able 

 toward the end of August to count as many as 15 or 20 beetles on a single turnip 

 plant. I cannot explain where these insects could have come from in such numbers. 

 Many of my neighbours also had their gardens infested, and one of them sowed his 

 Swede turnips three times ; another was equally unfortunate with me. How do these 

 insects gjet to the plants? ' 



It was explained to Mr. Worms that the Red Turnip Beetle, like many others of 

 the family to which it belongs, has well formed wings beneath the hard wing cases, by 

 means of which it can fly long distances from place to place. The species seems to 

 be more attracted by its native food plants, the Gray Tansy-mustard and the Prairie 



