INSECTS INFESTING THE SWEET POTATO 243 



inore complete account, with illustrations, has been furnished 

 on page 246. The variegated cutworm, in years when it in- 

 dulges in uprisings, al>o injures sweet potato and some other 

 cutworms and other caterpillars of less importance occasionally 

 cause losses to this plant. 



Remedies for these insects are duly treated on page 54. 



Mealy-bugs {Dactylopius spp.). — A species of unidentified 

 mealy-bug has been mentioned by Dr. J. B. Smith as destructive 

 in Salem County, N. J., in 1901, to sweet-potato in forcing beds.' 

 They were found clustered at the bases of the sprouts and of 

 the small leaves. It is not probable that these insects would 

 survive normal outdoor conditions wdien plants are set out in 

 spring in New Jersey, but in the Gulf region they doubtless 

 would develop out-of-doors quite as well as under glass. For 

 protection against mealy-bugs cellars and storerooms should be 

 thoroughly whitewashed and cleaned before the seed tubers are 

 stored and the temperature should be kept low while in the beds 

 where the roots are forced in spring. Cleanliness should be 

 observed and the roots should be inspected before putting them 

 in, and such as show the mealy-bugs should be rejected and 

 destroyed. 



1 Rept. Dept. Ent. N. J. Agr. CoU. Exper. Sta. for 1901 (1902), n. 489. 



