234 
REPOKT ON ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
A lucerne 
pest 
pest should be readily controlled by collecting and destroying every melon and cucumber 
that shows signs of attack. The most effective methods of destroying them are either to 
burn them or bury them deeply beneath at least eighteen inches of tightly rammed soil. 
The Melon Plant Bug 
Aspoitgoptis viduatus, Fab. 
This well-known pest of melons was figured in the First Eeport of these Laboratories. 
It is exceedingly common, in fact one rarely sees melons or cucumbers uninfested. 
It is too well known to need description. 
Preventions and remedies .— Collect and burn the refuse of diseased crops, keep the land 
clean, and hand-pick the bugs from the plants, especially while the latter are young. 
IV. Animals injurious to Lucerne 
The B e k s e e m Worm 
Caradrina eotigua, Ilubner 
Several outbreaks of this pest occurred during 1906. 
In Egypt it has been observed to feed on cotton, bamia, berseem, lucerne {herseem 
hegazi), maize {dura shanii), sugar-cane and other plants/ but in this country was only 
noticed attacking lucerne. 
Pgg .— In colour the egg varies from yellowish to pale green and is marked with 
radiating vertical ribs and smaller concentric ridges. 
Larva .— In general appearance the caterpillar is green with a broad darker stripe on 
either side of the sub-dorsal lines. The colours are subject to great variations. 
Length, about 26 mm. 
Pupa . — The pupa is yellowish brown in colour, with reddish-brown rings at the bases 
of the fourth to the seventh abdominal segments. 
Length, 10-11 mm. 
Adult . — A greyish-brown moth 9-11 mm. in length and with a wing expanse of 
22-27 mm. Thorax and abdomen greyish-brown. Fore-w'ing greyish-brown with a 
yellowish kidney-shaped mark on the median area. Hind-wing opalescent white wuth 
veins, margin and apex, fuscous. 
Life-histonj and habits .— The female deposits her eggs in masses, usually on the 
undersides of the leaves, and covers them with greyish down. In about four days the larvte 
appear and commence feeding on the lower epidermis. When about half growm they 
devour the whole substance of the leaf with the exception of the larger veins, and at the 
same time acquire the habit of feeding only by night and spending the day hidden in the soil. 
When full-fed they pupate in earthen cells, immediately below the surface of the 
ground. 
The life-cycle occupies usually about tw'enty-eight days. 
Owing to the young larv£E eating only the under-surface of the leaves and leaving the 
upper epidermis intact, infested fields of lucerne have the appearance of being scorched. 
Preventions and remedies .— The usual remedies employed in Egypt are hand-jiicking and 
flooding. In America, spraying the infested plants with arsenical sprays or with kerosene 
emulsion spray has been found successful. 
' Willcofks, year-bool: of KJeedivat Agricultural Aocirig, I'JDo, p. 1U7. 
