Spinach Carrion-beetle 



(d) SPINACH CARRION-BEETLE 



(Figs. 10 and 11, Plate VII, Page 23) 



The spinach carrion-beetle belongs to a family of insects the greater 

 part of whose members feed upon decaying animal matter. These 

 beetles are common objects under the carcasses of dead animals lying on 

 the ground. 



A few species of this family, however, feed upon vegetable matter, 

 and some on fungi, while others, like the species under discussion and 

 its near relative, the black carrion-beetle (Schwarze Aaskafer) of Ger- 

 many, feed upon sugar beets and other crops and upon field weeds. 



From field observations it seems quite probable that the growing of 

 sugar beets is not responsible for the presence of this pest in a neighbor- 

 hood, but that its presence is due to some of its favorite host plants being 

 in the vicinity. 



The following plants make up the menu of this beetle: Lamb's- 

 quarters, green-berried nightshade, spinach, and sugar beets. Squash 

 and pumpkin vines are sometimes damaged. The adults also feed upon 

 alfalfa. 



If none of the weeds upon which it feeds are growing in a neighbor- 

 hood the spinach carrion-beetle is not apt to occur in injurious numbers. 



NATURE OF INJURY 



Both the adult beetles and the larvae feed upon sugar beets. The 

 edges of the leaves are eaten, the injury being quite characteristic in its 

 appearance. According to Prof. R. A. Cooley,* the gnawed margins of 

 the leaves are ragged, often showing a thin projection of crushed tissue. 



Injury to sugar beets most often occurs near roadsides, ditch banks, 

 fence rows, and grain and alfalfa, from which the insects migrate into the 

 beet fields. 



Sugar beets are seldom injured after they have attained any size. 

 The greatest damage occurs about blocking and thinning time, when 

 many plants may be completely gnawed off. 



METHOD OF CONTROL 



Clean Culture 



Much can be done to control this pest by destroying the weeds upon 

 which it feeds. However, the work should not end here. The beetles 

 hibernate in the soil along ditches, fence rows and roadsides. If all weeds 

 are burned from these waste lands and the soil thoroughly disced or 

 plowed in the fall, few beetles will select these bare spaces for hibernation. 

 If the weeds and trash are left, these places are inviting hibernating 

 grounds, especially if a few of the host plants already mentioned are 

 growing on them. 



Poisoned Bait 



In the article* already referred to, Prof. Cooley states that the 

 poisoned bran mash so effective in the control of cutworms (See "Kansas 

 Mixture," page 39) is very effective against the carrion-beetle when 



*"'Spinach Carrion-beetle.'* Journal of Economic Entomology, Vol. 10, No. 1 (1917). 



94 



