56 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF KANSAS. 



The beetles are rather oval in form, flattened, and spread out 

 like the shell of a turtle. This turtle-like effect is heightened by 

 the peculiar markings of the back, the dark center often showing 

 two or four foot-like dark projections pushing out to the rim of 

 the shell. One species is of the most beautiful golden color when 

 alive ; another is pale yellow, striped with black. 



The eggs of these beetles are deposited singly on the leaves. 

 The larvae and the adult beetles usually remain on the under side 

 of the leaves, gnawing irregular holes in them. They are most 

 abundant during May and June, and have an especial fondness 

 for the young plants. 



Remedies. — Paris green, one part of the poison to two parts 

 of flour, sprinkled on the ground under the vines will kill the 

 insects. 



Paris green or London purple, one pound to 100 gallons of wa- 

 ter (see p. 7), may be sprayed on the plants with good effect. If 

 the under side of the leaves can be sprayed it is better. How- 

 ever, as the insects eat the entire leaf, spraying from above will 

 answer. The spraying should be done as soon as the plants are 

 well rooted, and two applications, with an interval of a week, 

 should be sufiicient. 



It is highly advisable to keep a close watch on the young plants 

 (examining the under sides of the leaves) and to pick off by hand 

 any larvae or beetles found. There are probably several genera- 

 tions of the pest in the year, and if many of the first ones to ap- 

 pear are destroyed there will be a large reduction of the possible 

 numbers in succeeding generations during the season. 



Kansas Notes. — These pests occasionally seriously injure the 

 sweet-potato crop in the State. 



SQUASH BUG. 

 (Anasa tristis De Geer; Order, Hemiptera.) 



Diagnosis. — Infesting the squash; a rather large, flattened, 

 rusty-black, ill-smelling bug, about one-half an inch long, with a 

 pointed, sucking beak, attacking the leaves; the leaves become 

 yellow and sickly; if the bugs are numerous, attacked plants may 

 die. 



