180 INSECTS AFFECTING THE SQUASH. 



in the soil about the stems of the plants, and the 

 larvae resulting feed upon the roots. They reach 

 maturity in a couple of months, having pupated 

 within the soil. The larvae (Fig. 92, a) are whitish, 

 cylindrical worms, not quite half an inch long, with 

 three pairs of legs at the front of the body, and one 

 pro-leg at the posterior extremity. The insect winters 

 over in the beetle state, under leaves, logs, and rub- 

 bish of various kinds. 



The beetles usually appear suddenly, often coming 

 to the squash or melon field in great numbers within 

 a few hours. Consequently a watch must be kept 

 to prevent their doing damage before discovered. 



Remedies. — There are probably few injurious in- 

 sects for which more remedies and preventives have 

 been suggested than this. But a large proportion of 

 these methods are worthless. Good success has been 

 obtained by applying liberal quantities of refuse - 

 tobacco powder to the hills. A shovel-full thrown 

 upon the hills has been found largely to prevent the 

 damage. The application should be repeated occa- 

 sionally, when wind and rain have removed the 

 powder from the plants. The tobacco acts not only 

 as a repellent to the beetles, but also as a mulch and 

 fertilizer to the plants. Similar, though less liberal, 

 applications of phosphates, bone dust, and other 

 commercial fertilizers, are also recommended by 

 some authorities. 



For the kitchen garden the most satisfactory 

 method is that of protecting the plants by some form 



