296 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



days or two weeks. The larvu; are so easily killed by arsenicals 

 that potato growers no longer fear their work, but large quantities 

 of Paris green are wasted by careless application, and by dusting 

 unduly large amounts with poor apparatus, which not infrequently 

 results in burning the foliage. For small areas a bucket or knap- 

 sack pump will be found satisfactory, but for over an acre a barrel 

 pump with a row attachment will prove more economical, and for 

 over ten acres a geared machine spraying several rows at once will 

 be needed. Cleaning up the vines and plowing potato land in the 



FIG. 216. The convergent ladybird (Hippodamia convergens): a, adult; 6, 

 pupa; c, larva; enjarged. (After Chittenden U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



fall after the crop has been harvested will aid in reducing the num- 

 bers of the hibernating beetles. 



Flea-beetles * 



While the potatoes and tomatoes are but a few inches high they 

 are often attacked by myriads, of small black beetles, which from 

 their power of making long quick jumps are known as flea-beetles. 

 They soon riddle the foliage, of ten so badly that the plants wilt, and 

 replanting is necessary, particularly with tomatoes. 



Several species are known to attack the potato, the two most 

 common being the potato or cucumber flea-beetle (Epitrix cucum- 

 eris Harris) and one which Professor H. A. Carman has styled the 

 Southern Potato Flea-beetle (Epitrix fuscula) . The Tobacco Flea* 



* Family Chrysomelidce. 



