134 MANUAL OF VEGETABLE-GARDEN INSECTS 



about the middle of June in New Jersey. They are ^ inch in 

 length, hemispherical in form and dull yellowish in color. 

 The thorax has four small black spots and the wing-covers 

 have twelve large spots arranged in three transverse rows 

 (Fig. 79). The yellow, elongate, subcylindrical eggs, yy ii^ch in 

 length, are deposited in clusters of six to more than fifty. They 

 hatch in about a week. The larva is yellow in color and armed 

 with six rows of long branched spines ; when mature it meas- 

 ures about f inch in length. The larv^ feed generally on the 

 underside of the leaves, eating off the surface in circular clearly 

 defined areas. They become mature in 

 about three weeks and then crawl to 

 the upper surface of the leaf wdiere 

 they transform to pupse. The pupa is 

 about ^ inch in length, yellow in color 

 and covered with short simple black 

 spines most abundant on the head, 

 thorax and appendages. It is attached 

 to the leaf by the posterior end of the 

 body. The pupal stage lasts from six 

 to nine days. The beetles appear from 

 the latter part of July throughout the remainder of the 

 season. There is only one generation annually. 



Control. 



The squash ladybird is usually present only in small num- 

 bers ; in such cases hand-picking will be the easiest and cheapest 

 method of control. When more abundant, it would be better 

 to spray the vines with arsenate of lead (paste), 2 to 2|- pounds 

 in 50 gallons of water. 



Reference 



Fkj. 79. — The squash 

 ladybird (X 3). 



U. S. Div. Ent. Bull. 19, pp. 11-20. 1899 



