132 VEGETABLE GARDENING 



abundant it is a very difficult pest to combat. It appears 

 in the spring at just about the time the young squash 

 plants are out of the ground, having 

 wintered over in brushpiles or other 

 places affording protection. The beetle 

 lays its eggs on the roots of corn, where 

 the young do considerable damage. 

 These worms are full grown in about 

 one month from hatching. They then 

 Fig. 47. striped cu- leave the roots, make a little cavity in 



cumber beetle and larva. , , - . , , 



the earth near by, and undergo their 

 changes. The insects spend the winter in the beetle stage. 

 The beetle is about a quarter of an inch long and is striped 

 with yellow and black. It is very quick in its movements 

 but does not fly much except in the middle of the day. 



Remedies. An extra 

 amount of seed should be 

 sown so as to secure a 

 good stand and still allow 

 some for the beetles. 

 Dusting the vines, stems, 

 and leaves when they are 

 moist, with air-slaked 

 lime, road dust, or similar 

 material containing a lit- 

 tle Paris green or other 

 poison, is quite a protec- 

 tion, and if persistently 

 followed up after every 



Fig. 48. Cheesecloth screen for protect- 



rain Will generally Ore- ing young cucumber, squash, and melon vines 

 . t. from the striped beetle. 



vent serious loss. But 



care should be taken to put the dust on the stems as 



well as the leaves. Paris green and water is also a good 



