362 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE MELON. 



When full grown, the larva leaves the plant and seeks 

 shelter under the earth, where it forms an oblong-oval cocoon 

 (Fig. 372) of particles of earth fastened 

 together with gummy silk, within which it 

 transforms to a shining, brown chrysalis, 

 which remains unchanged until the follow- 

 ing season. When the perfect insect is about 

 to escape, the chrysalis wriggles itself part way out of the 

 cocoon, so that the moth when freed from the chrysalis shell 

 may find no further obstacle to its exit. 



The presence of this borer in the vines is soon manifested 

 by a sickly appearance and a drooping of the foliage, which, 

 if the cause is not removed, soon results in withering and 

 death. Whenever a vine becomes unhealthy, the stems should 

 be examined, and cut into if necessary, to remove the lurk- 

 ing enemy. The moths may be prevented from depositing 

 their eggs by lightly banking up the young vines with earth, 

 as they grow, as far as the first blossoms. When once the 

 larva is within the stem, no other remedy than the knife is 

 of much service. 



ATTACKING THE STEMS, 



No. 222. The Striped Squash Beetle. 



Diabrotica vittata (Fabr.). 



This is a troublesome enemy to the melon-grower, and is 

 destructive not only to the melon, but also to the squash and 

 cucumber, boring in the caterpillar state into the 

 l 3 ! lower part of the stem, and sometimes down into 

 the root, while the perfect beetle feeds on the tender 

 leaves of the young plants, and injures the buds and 

 young shoots of later growth. 



The parent beetle, shown in Fig. 373, magnified, 

 makes its appearance very early in the season, as soon as the 

 young seed-leaves of the vines are above ground, and some- 



