No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 539 



damage. The one generally called "The Cucumber Flea-beetle'' 

 { Crepidodera cucumeris), prefers potato leaves to those of cucumbers. 

 (Fig. 35.) 



Although the adults are very small they often appear in such num- 

 bers as to prove quite serious. They are too small to be kept out by 

 netting unless very tine gauze or cheese cloth is used. On account 

 of the readiness with which they jump with the wind they can be de- 

 stroyed by thousands by Mechanical Device No. 3. 



They are biters or chewers and hence can be killed by the arsen- 

 ites. The remedies are the same as for the striped cucumber beetle. 

 Bordeaux mixture is good, besides acting as a fungicide or remedy 

 for plant disease. The tobacco decoction and arsenate of If'ad are 

 also to be especially recommended. 



ORDER DIPTERA: The Flies. 



Whenever decay commences in any part of cucurbitaceous plants, 

 several species of fly larvse or "maggots" may be found. They are 

 whitish, footles® and headless grubs, without jaws or appendages. 

 They live in the liquids that accompany decay and feed upon these 

 and the decaying tissues. They need cause no alarm, as they are 

 more the result than the cause of the trouble where they occur. 



Sometimes one may see a wilted young plant, and upon digging 

 into the ground find it nearly cut off an inch or two beneath the sur- 

 face, and in the wilting stem, toward the top, may be found a single 

 fly larva. This is there because the Cucumber Beetles had bitten the 

 plant partially off and left a suitable place for the adult fly to de- 

 posit its egg. 



Ko remedy is necessary but excessive seeding prevents disastrous 

 results from the effects of the Cucumber Beetles and anv other in- 

 sects that would cut off some of the young stalks. 



