294 



JOURNAL OF AGKIOULTUEE OF P. E. 



page 275 1 ; Kudamus proteu.s (see Beans, page 277); Nacoleia in- 

 (licain (see T5eaiis. page 278^ ; weevils (see Beans, page 279). 



CUCUMBERS. 



THE MELON CATERPILLAR {Diapliania hyalimta) . 



CueuuiluM". melon, and squash vines are often serionsl.y injured 

 l)y a sinall. slender green worm known as the melon caterpillar. 

 Tills woi'ia or caterpillar has the habit of feeding on the foliage, and 

 also of ]»nring into the fruit and stalks of the vine. 



After feeding for about two weeks, the caterpillar transforms 

 to a lUipa within a fold of a leaf. A few days later the adult moth 

 euierges. It is a very handsome moth, with iridescent white wings 

 l)()rdore(i witli Inown. 



It may be controlled by spraying the plants with arsenate of 



~_ lead, three pounds in fifty gallons 



of water, or by dusting them with 

 a mixture of equal parts of arse- 

 nate of lead and hydrated or air- 

 slacked lime. 



MELON APHIS {Aphis gossypU) . 



During certain seasons of the 



year, the leaves of the cucumber 



Fig. 46. — The Melon Caterpillar '"^f^ other cucurbits will be seen 

 (Diaphnma hj/alimia). Adult to be curled up and wilting, and 



if they ai-e examined it will be 

 seen lliat ihc uiidei'sides of the leaves are covered with masses of 

 greenish pl.-int lice. 



These winged and wingless soft-bodied insects are known as melon 

 aphides and they inci-ease with such rapidity that they very often 

 i-nii! whole itatches of \-ines befo'i-e they are brought under control 

 by their natuial enemies, 'i'hey injure the plants by sucking the 

 vital juices. • As soon as one leaf is dried up they move to another. 



('(>i)lr(.l. — These plant lire may be easily controlled by spraying 

 them with a nicotin<' sulphate and soap solution as recommended on 

 page 268. 



THE LARGE STRIPED CUCUMBER BEETLE {DiobroHca innuhd) . 



These black and yellow striped beetles are always to be seen arou7id 

 cucumber, squash, and melon vines. They feed chiefly on the flowers, 



