PREFACE 



The present publication oompiises a series of articles which have 

 been issued in seven parts and are now brought together as a single 

 bulletin. It relates to a line of investigations begun in 1896, the 

 earlier results of which were jniblished in previous bulletins of the 

 present series, in Yearbooks of the Department, and in circulars of 

 the Bureau. The title, "Some Insects Injurious to Truck Crops," 

 is used in a wide sense and includes insects injurious to sugar beet, 

 since the same class of insects wliich affect this important crop also 

 attack table beets and spinach. 



The initial article is the first treatment that has been given to the 

 asparagus miner in a Government publication. The second article, 

 entitled "Notes on the asparagus beetles," is a sequel to a general 

 article on the asparagus beetles which appeared in the Yearbook for 

 1896. It places on record all important new localities to date, and 

 furnishes similarly the latest information in regard to remedies. The 

 importance which has been assumed by the water-cress sowbug since 

 1902 has necessitated the preparation of a publication covering this 

 species, with suggestions for its control. The subject of water-cress 

 insects has never been considered in a Department pubhcation hith- 

 erto, and similar treatment of the water-cress leaf-beetle to that 

 furnished on the sowbug follows. The cranberry spanworm is given 

 monographic treatment not hitherto furnished for it. It is an omniv- 

 orous feeder, and has attracted attention on various crops, and 

 especially on asparagus and strawberry. A similar article on the 

 striped garden caterpillar, also an omnivorous form, completes 

 Part III of the bulletin. 



The article representing Part TV is a detailed consideration of the 

 sugar-beet leafhopper and of other affiliated species in their relation 

 to the "curly-leaf condition of the sugar beet. It was prepared by 

 Dr. E. D. Ball while special field agent of this Bureau in Utah; he 

 has been engaged on this work for a number of years. The semi- 

 tropical army worm is the sul)ject of Part Y. It was the most trouble- 

 some insect on truck crops in Florida during 1907, and was given 

 detailed study from every possible standpoint by the authors. In the 

 experiments with remedies, which were conducted by the junior 

 author, Mr. H. M. Russell, a series of 15 trials was performed, proving 

 that a spray of arsenate of lead is far superior to Paris green under local 



V 



