202 INSKCT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



since saved millions upon millions of dollars to the American 

 fanner. Tims, with an effectual remedy which is now used where 

 this pest occurs as regularly as potatoes are planted, " familiarity 

 has bred contempt," and to-day we have but little fear of its 

 attack. 



History. As is probably known to most of the older genera- 

 tion who watched its spread eastward, the Colorado potato-beetle, 

 as its name indicates, was a native of the Rocky Mountain region, 

 and until about ISoo was satisfied with feeding upon various coin- 



Fid. 212. The Colorado potato-beetle (Leplinolarsa decemlineala Say.): a, 

 eggs; b, larva; c, pupa; d, beetle; c, elytra or wing-rover of beetle; 

 /, leg of beetle. (After Riley.) 



mon weeds of the same genus as the potato-plant, principally 

 Solanum datura, and closely allied genera. But with the settle- 

 ment of this country and the introduction of the Irish potato, 

 these bugs also began to take advantage of the fruits of civilization 

 and transferred their feeding-grounds from the roadside to the 

 potato-patch, and rapidly spread eastward from one to another, 

 as well as being transported in the shipping of the potatoes. 



Thus, in 1859 they had reached a point one hundred miles west 

 of Omaha, Xeb.; five years later they crossed the Mississippi into 

 Illinois; and they advanced steadily eastward till recorded among 



