INJURING THE LEAVES. 



179 



attacked by the bugs become sickly and yellow, and 

 if the pests are numerous the whole plant may 

 finally be killed. 



Remedies. — Hand-picking appears to be the most 

 practicable remedy that has yet been tried. This 

 should be done during the cooler hours of the day, 

 when the bugs are sluggish. The young may also 

 be destroyed by spraying with kerosene emulsion. 

 Professor Cook reports good success in placing pieces 

 of boards among the plants, under which the bugs 

 collect at night, and where they may easily be found 

 and destroyed. 



The Striped Cucumber Beetle. 



Diabrotica vittata. 

 This is the small, yellow beetle (Fig. 92, b) with 

 black stripes on its back that so commonly attacks 

 squashes, cucumbers, melons, and other cucurbitace- 



ous plants, soon after 

 they come up in the 

 spring. It feeds up- 

 on the leaves and 

 stems, and in many 

 parts of the country 

 is s o destructive 

 that these plants can 

 not be grown unless 

 preventive measures 

 are taken to guard 

 against its injuries. The female beetles deposit eggs 



Fi 



92. Cucumber Beetle : a, larva; 6, beetle. 

 Magnified. 



