Insects Injurious to Root Crops and Indian Corn, 



BEET AND MANGEL WURZEL. 



While there are several insects injurious to the Beet, 

 especially the Sugar Beet in Europe, this crop has been 

 thus far singularly free from insect enemies in this 

 country. Even the all-devouring Western Grass-hopper 

 often leaves the Beets untouched; while the White Grub 

 (Lachnosterna), makes no such exception, and is some- 

 times very troublesome. (SEE WHITE GBUB). In Eng- 

 land, the larva of the Beet Carrion Beetle (Silpha opaca, 

 Linn. ), has occasionally destroyed crops by feeding on 

 the leaves, but little seems to be known about it. A fly 

 (Antliomyia betce, Curtis), is often destructive to the 

 Beet and Mangel in Europe, and a few cases have been 

 reported of its appearance in this country in 1881. This 

 insect is a near relative of the Onion Fly (See ONION), 

 its larvae burrowing in numbers in the pulpy matter of 

 the leaf. When a leaf wilts, the larvae, about a third of 

 an inch long, may be seen, if present, by holding the 

 leaf up to the light. The only remedy thus far suggested 

 is, to remove all leaves that show signs of flagging, and 

 destroy them before the maggots can transform to flies. 



INDIAN CORN. 



While there are a few insects that especially attack this 

 important crop, it also receives attention from the gener- 

 ally destructive insects. In those localities where the 



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