INJURIOUS TO MELONS, CUCUMBERS, SQUASH, ETC. 383 



substance tested by Dr. Headlee, but undoubtedly kills many of 

 those which are forced to feed upon it. Professor Gillette reports 

 that dry pyrethrum dusted on the plants while the dew is on will kill 

 many of the insects. Sirrine found that in New York the beetles 

 could be poisoned successfully with Paris green, but only while 

 feeding in the spring before they commenced to pair, and in the 

 fall, as they refused protected foliage after pairing commenced. 

 Various repellants, such as kerosene, turpentine, naphthalene or 

 moth balls, and other similar odoriferous substances, have been 

 strongly recommended, but careful tests have not demonstrated 

 their efficiency. 



It is evident that the cleaning up of vines as soon as the crop 

 can be gathered and the destruction of all refuse will deprive the 

 beetles of food in the fall and force them to seek other hibernating 

 places, thus increasing the mortality. 



The Melon-aphis * 



Just as the vines commence to run, a plant will be found here 

 and there with the foliage curled up and wilting and within will be 

 found masses of the greenish " melon lice," which have caused the 

 injury by their many beaks sucking out the sap of the plant. If 

 allowed to multiply unchecked and their natural enemies do not 

 prevent their increase, they will sometimes become so abundant 

 as .o completely ruin a whole crop just as the melons are com- 

 mencing to ripen. It is one of the worst pests of cucurbs and one 

 which requires constant vigilance on the part of the grower. ' 



The aphides are to be found on various weeds in early spring 

 and appear on cucurbs soon after they start growth. Both winged 

 and wingless females occur throughout the year. The wingless 

 form is about one-fifteenth inch long and varies from light yellow 

 or tan colored to deep olive-green or deep green which appears 

 almost blackish, the abdomen being always more or less mottled. 

 The rather long, tapering, honey-tubes are jet black, and the legs 

 and antennae pale whitish-yellow. The young nymphs always 



* Aphis gossypii Glover. Family Aphididce. See F. H. Chittenden, 

 Circular 80, Bureau of Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr. 



