304 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



plants, except when they are in bloom, and if the orchard and berry 

 beds are watched and treated upon the first appearance of the bugs 

 the latter can be greatly reduced in numbers before the fruit blossoms 

 are fally expanded. They are also very easily jarred from trees dur- 

 ing cool mornings while they are more or less torpid. 



As this insect feeds upon such a variety of plants it is one of the 

 most difficult species with which to experiment, and, as yet, I have not 

 been able to innoculate it with any of the fungous diseases of which 

 the germs were obtainable. Nor would it be of much value had the 

 efforts succeeded, since the bugs seldom congregate so closely as to 

 infect one another. I have found it in the autumn quite abundant on 

 the flowers of sunflowers and on the green seed heads of Chenopodium 

 ( Pig weed or Lamb's quarter ). It is also said to be partial to the 

 yellow flowers of cabbage and lettuce, and may be knocked from these 

 into vessels of hot water or upon cloth saturated with coal oil. The 

 most reliable preventive, however, is the thorough clearing up and 

 burning of all rubbish, in which the insects naturally harbor, during 

 autumn, winter and early spring. 



THE MELON OR CUCUMBER PLANT-LOUSE. 



(Aphis gossippi, Glover ; cueumeris, Forbes. j 



The species above named was more than usually abundant during 

 the past summer, and proved exceedingly destructive on cucumbers 

 and all sorts of melons in many sections of Missouri, and in other 

 States where these fruits are produced in great quantities for the 

 markets of large cities. In some localities the melon and cucumber 

 fields were practically destroyed by it, causing very serious loss to the 

 growers. 



This aphis appears upon the vines about the last of June or early 

 in July, congregating on the under sides of the leaves, and as it in- 

 creases in numbers, covering the growing points, flowers and even the 

 young fruit. 



It is usually found in two forms, the one winged and the other 

 wingless, both of which produce living young at an incalculably rapid 

 rate. The species is of medium size, one-fifteenth to one-twelfth inch in 

 length, with a pear-shaped body. In color it ranges from pale yellow 

 and green to brown. The eyes, joints of the legs, tips of the antennas 

 and the honey tubes or "nectaries" are dark brown or black. The 

 more slenderwinged form has the body ornamented with various black 

 bands and spots. The winged forms are the migrants, first from the 

 spring food plant to the melon or cucumber vines, then from one vine 



