122 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES 



rapidly. It can be controlled in the same manner as other flea- 

 beetles and leaf-beetles, and there is no doubt that if growers 

 took pains not to allow chickweed and lambsquarters to spring 

 up in the fields that the insect could be still more easily de- 

 stroyed, as the first generation is produced on this and some 

 similar weeds, and it is the second generation which attacks 

 the beets. Its young, or larva, has the same habit as the adult, 

 and the species frequently "cleans out" entire rows of beets 

 before its appearance is suspected. 



Remedies for flea-beetles are discussed on page 65. 



The Larger Beet Leaf -beetle (Mouoxia puncticollis Say). — 

 Two species of native leaf-beetles are important enemies of the 

 sugar-beet in the West, where they are sometimes known as 

 "French bugs" and "alkali bugs." 



The larger beet leaf-beetle (fig. 76) lays her eggs on the 

 under side of leaves, where they hatch in about six days, the 

 young larva; commence feeding at once, continuing for nine or 



Fig. 76 —Larger beet leaf-beetle a, Female beetle; b eggs; c. larva. <■> . male daw; 

 $ , female claw- All much enlarged; claws more enlarged. (Author s illustration. 

 U.S. Dept. Agr.) 



ten days, when they dig their way into the ground, and, a few 

 days later, come forth as beetles. Damage is due to both the 

 larvse and beetles, hundreds occurring on a single plant, which 



