\K(;KTA1!LK iXSKCTS. 



.)U t 



268. It is well to bear in luiiul that it is necessary to liit tliis insect 

 with the spray in order to kill it. 



LARGE SQUASH BUG [Lf ploglossus gonogcira). 



This large, brownish-black bug is very commonly touiul with its 

 long, needle-like ])roboscis inseited in the stems of the sqnash vine. 



Tt hiys small, biowi:. bar> el-shai)cd eggs in a single row on the 

 stems of the vine. These hatch into small, bright-red and black 

 wingless nymphs that suck tlie juices from the leaves and stems in 

 a similiar manner to the adult. These nymphs pass through a num- 

 ber of forms and color changes before finally becoming adults. 



Control. — The best method of controlling this pest is to hand pick 



the adults and spray tlie 

 nymi)hs with a nicotine sul- 

 phate and soap solution, 

 prepared as recommended on 

 j)age 268. 



OTHER SQUASH PESTS. 



Plifhia pic I (I (see 'J'oma- 

 loes, page oil I. The squash 

 is also subject to the attack 

 of all insects that affect the 

 cucumber (see page 294). 



SWEKT l'()TAT<)l';S. 

 AlOTTLKl) TOK'TOISK m-.l-.TLl'. 



( ( 'optovjivUi sig)ii.fcra) . 



Fig. 61. — Large S(ju;isli Buy {Lci'iorilos- 

 sf/.s- fioiiofidrd). Adult. 



Sweet |)()tatoes ai'c some- 

 times attacked by a beautifully colored beetle called the mottled 

 tortoise beetle. Tliis beetle, as the name implies, is shaped somewhal 

 like a turtle. it is black in color, aiul nuii'ked with six irregular 

 golden s])ots. 



The native food plant of this beetle is the wild morning glory, 

 but it leaves it t'of the sweet potatoes, I'iddling the leaves with its 

 feeding punctures. 'I'he ])eculiar-shaped, yellowish lai'va' also feed 

 on the leaves but do not cause nearly so much damage as do the 

 l)eetles. 



