34 SOME INSECTS INJURIOUS TO TRUCK CROPS. 



for this condition. These examinations were, however, always made 

 late in the season after the curly-leaf character had become general 

 and after the greater number of insects had disappeared. Examina- 

 tion of the beets always revealed a few specimens of Eutettix tenella 

 along with other leafhoppers and miscellaneous insects, but never in 

 sufficient number to cause suspicion. 



Late in June, 1905, reports began to come in to the Utah experiment 

 station of the appearance of an insect in the beet fields of the southern 

 and central portions of the State, and on July 8 the writer, in com- 

 pany with Mr. George Austin, visited the fields around Lehi and there 

 found the beet leafhoppers, associated with smaller numbers of .false 

 chinch bugs (Nysius) and leafhoppers of the genus Agallia, causing 

 serious damage to the young plants, especially in the late-planted 

 fields. 



From the size of the beets and the number of the beet leafhoppers 

 present when first examined in 1905, the prediction was made that the 

 insects would not be able seriously to retard the further growth of the 

 beets. This prediction was based on the ordinary amount of damage 

 done by insects of sucking habits. That the number of insects found 

 would be able to injure or even seriously retard a very young beet 

 was recognized, but that the same number could have any appreciable 

 effect on large beets was contrary to all exj^ectations based on a knowl- 

 edge of similar attacks by Nysius, Agallia, and other sucking insects. 



The trouble soon afterwards appeared in the Cache Valley, Utah, 

 and was under observation there throughout the remainder of the sea- 

 son, while several trips were made to various parts of the State. 

 Wherever it appeared it gradually grew worse, and although the year 

 1905 started with everything favorable in the early season, the Utah 

 beet crop fell below the average about 75,000 tons. This, however, did 

 not anywhere rej^resent the entire loss, as both sugar content and 

 purity of the beets harvested fell far below the average, entailing fur- 

 ther loss to the sugar companies and bringing the total to more than 

 half a million dollars. 



In Sanpete and Sevier counties, in the southern part of Utah, a 

 large part of the acreage was abandoned early in the season, while the 

 rest barely paid the expense of harvesting. In Utah County the crop 

 varied from a total loss on a few late fields to a full crop, with an 

 average of more than a half crop harvested. In the Cache Valley, in 

 the northern part of the State, the loss was about one-third in tonnage, 

 and in Weber and Boxelder counties less than that. 



In 1906 a very small number of leafhoppers appeared, and, as the 

 season was cool, even where they were most abundant little damage 

 was done. A careful study was made of the life history and distribu- 

 tion of the species, and a number of tests were made of its injury to 

 the beets. . 



66— IV 



