536 ANNUAL, REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



easily found and killed by using lanterns at night. It does not fly 

 into lamp traps. In its flight it resembles a wasp. 



The moth pasees the winter in the ground and appears in this lati- 

 tude about the last of June. 



It lays its eggs singly, either on the vine or on the stalks or petioles 

 of the leaves. The favorite place is toward the base of the vine. We 

 have found many at the top of the leaf stem. (Figs. 21, 22.) When 

 the larva hatches it eats into the interior of the vine or of the hollow 

 leaf stem and follows the latter down and enters the vine. The small 

 hole that it makes can be seen and generally fine borings or dust (ex- 

 creta) can be seen at this hole. Their presence in the vine can first 

 be detected by the presence of the dust at the small hole. 



Because it is an internal feeder it cannot be killed by an insecti- 

 cide. It should be cut out with a sharp knife, cutting lengthwise of 

 the vine, and dust rubbed on the wound to facilitate healing. The 

 vine ehould be covered at intervals of a few feet with damp earth 

 over the base of the leaves that roots can be formed there. After 

 the new roots are formed the vine will continue to grow even though 

 it may be entirely cut oil' at its base. We have grown good crops 

 on plants treated in this way. (Figs. 23 and 24.) 



Another method is to plant summer varieties of squash to become 

 large and receive the eggs and larvae; then after the winter varieties 

 (Hubbards and Marrowfate) are starting, gather the early fruits 

 from the trap crops and destroy the vines by burning. 



Mechanical protection from squash borers is not possible because 

 they attack the vines after the latter are too large to be covered by 

 netting advantageously. Pumpkin vines are commonly infested and 

 should be burned as soon as the crop is gathered or when found dying. 

 (Farm Practice, No. 2.) 



ORDER COLEOPTERA: The Beetles. 



FAMILY COCCINELLID^: The Lady-bugs, Lady-birds or Lady-beetles. 



The Herbivorous Lady-bugs [Epilachna horealis). 



The adult beetles of this species are large hemispherical, yellow 

 with black spots. The larvae are also yellow, elongate, oval, with 

 long branched spines. '' Lpllachna horea is is the northern and east- 

 ern species, attacking cucumber, melon and similar vines, while 

 L. corrupta.\% found in the southwest, injuring beans. A curious 

 feature in E. 'borealls is the manner in which the adult works out a 

 circle at the edge of a leaf and feed® within it until all usable ma- 



