INSECTS INlL'KIOrS TO BEETS AND SPINACH 



123 



13 either consumed or so injured that it shrivels and dies. Since 

 1897 this species has done more or less i-njury to sugar-beet in 

 Colorado, Idaho, Utah and neighboring States, the beetles often 

 occurring in swarms like blister beetles. This species resembles 

 the elm leaf-beetle, but is larger and differently marked. It is 

 oblong, narrow in front and dull brown while the wing-covers 

 are more or less distinctly striped. 



The Western Beet Beetle (Monoxia consputa Lee). — Beets 

 are much injured by this species along the Pacific Coas^;. It 



Fig- 77.— Western beet beetle. 

 Eight times natural size; antenna 

 at left highly magnified. (Author's 

 illustration, U. S- Dept. Agr.) 



Fig. 78.— Margined blister 

 beetle. Enlarged. (Author's 

 illustration, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



eats holes through the leaves, in some instances leaving only 

 a network of the original leaf, and this seriously interferes with 

 the growth of young plants, which are s >metinies killed. This 

 beetle (fig. jy) is closely related to the preceding, but is smaller, 

 measuring only about one-sixth of an inch in length. 



Remedies. — These beet leaf-beetles are important enemies of 

 sugar-beet culture. The general methods for the control of leaf 

 and flea-beetles (see page 65) are applicable, but a few remarks 

 should be added in regard to particular remedies. Paris green, 

 London purple, and paragrene have all been employed against 

 the larger snecies with apparently good results when applied 



