8 



beetle as known at that time, its method of attack, and some sugges- 

 tions regarding remedies. 



The sugar-cane beetle measures from one-half to five-eighths of an 

 inch (15 to 18 mm.) in length, is jet black above and black and 

 piceous beneath ; head roughl}^ shagreened ; thorax with minute 

 rather sparse punctures; e]3^tra Avith longitudinal strife and many 

 small punctures; thorax and elytra polished and shining; on each 

 wing cover near the tip a smooth, slightly elevated prominence, be- 

 yond which the elytra are abruptly truncate; abdomen projecting 

 slightly beyond the tii:)S of the elytra. The legs are coarsely spined, 

 the front tibia> being broad and armed with four large, broad teeth. 

 This species can be readily separated from the rice beetle {Chalepus 

 trachyjjygvs Burm.) by its smaller size and more parallel sides. The 

 rice beetle is more rounded across the thorax and elytra. The carrot 

 beetle {Ligyrus gihhosus DeG.) is distinguished readily by the under 

 side of the abdomen being quite densely covered with reddish hair. 



HABITS AND METHOD OF ATTACK. 



At the time of the first trip in 1904 much of the sugar cane was 

 from 10 to 18 inches high. The previous season had been rather 

 unfavorable, owing to excessively dry w^eather, and in some fields the 

 cane was sprouting poorly. Plant cane continued to sprout and push 

 through the ground until late in June, and many of the buds on 

 mother cane that were examined in April and May had died from 

 lack of sufficient moisture. 



During the four weeks of the first trip the principal cane-growing 

 regions of Louisiana were visited, special attention being paid to 

 plantations at Olivier, Berwnck, Morgan City, Broussard, and St. 

 James. At all places visited the beetle was found injuring cane 

 severely. In some of the districts it was reported that this was tlie 

 first year there had been serious injury, but most of the planters 

 interviewed stated that they had had more or less loss from the beetles 

 for several years. Those who had been raising cane for long periods 

 could recall records of injuries at varying intervals for the past forty- 

 five or fifty years. Especial injury was reported to have occurred in 

 1884, 1880, 1876, 1872, and once before the civil w^ar— about 185G-57. 

 At times, in some areas, almost the entire cane and corn crops had 

 been cut down. 



This past year (1901) the beetles commenced work on the cane 

 before the tips had appeared above the ground and continued until 

 early in July to do serious damage. The injury to corn began as 

 soon as the corn aj^peared above ground, whole fields being, in many 

 cases, completely laid bare; and even the second planting was 

 destroyed. 



