LEAFHOPPERS OF THE SL^GAR BEET. 47 



AViis then called " blight " that it was not harvested. Many of the 

 beets had died and the rest were small and stunted, while the leaf- 

 hoppers could be swept up in numbers. 



In California " curly-leaf " conditions were seen by Professor Titus 

 at Oxnard and Spreckels and rei)orted tobequite serious on the higher 

 lands back of Salinas. Whether this was the true " curly-leaf " or the 

 type found there this j^ear w^as not determined. 



In August, 1907, another trip was made by him through the same 

 territory and a few specimens of Eutettix tenella taken at Payette, 

 Idaho. Little damage was being done that season, but field men re- 

 ported considerable loss in 1905 in both Payette and Blackfoot, Idaho. 

 A few E. teneUa were taken at Union, Oreg., and Echo, Oreg., in 

 August, 1907. only slight damage showing in either place. Large 

 nymphs were taken with the adults. 



In California a number of places were visited by Professor Titus in 

 August, 1907, but no specimens of Eutettix taken. In September 

 another trip through the California districts was made, and a few 

 specimens of E. tenella were taken at Chino on the 13th. No very 

 definite cases of " curly-leaf '' were noticed. 



ECOXOMIC SUMMARY AXD PROPOSED RErSFEDIES. 



The " curly-leaf " condition or " blight " of the sugar beet, as it 

 occurs in Utah and the surrounding region, appears soon after an 

 attack of the beet leafhopper {Eutettix tenella Baker). Its severity 

 is conditional upon the number of insects present, upon the time of 

 their appearance, upon the size of the beets, and upon the temperature 

 of the surface soil, together with the temperature and moisture of 

 the surrounding air. 



More should l)e known about the places of hibernation and early 

 spring history of this insect. It could not be found in the rubbish 

 around the fields in early spring, and only a few specimens were found 

 in waste places up to the time they appeared on the beets. AVhen once 

 the place where the greater number of them pass the winter is discov- 

 ered, it may be possible to destroy them there or on their spring food 

 plants before they migrate to the beets. After they have appeared 

 on the beets it will be necessary to be very prompt in the matter of 

 remedies if the injury is to be prevented. A thorough spraying with 

 kerosene emulsion at a strength of 1 part of the stock solution " to 5 

 parts of water would destroy most of Ihe insects that it hit, and by 

 using a drag in front of the nozzles to turn the leaves over and cause 

 the insects to jump, most of them could be reached. "Wliere the insects 



" For directions rcfrardliif; tbe preparation :uul nse of Icerosene cnnilsion see 

 Farmers' Rnlletin 127. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, pp. 20-21, and Circular SO, 

 linreau of Entomology. 



