GARDEN INSECTS 281 



year to year. Many growers sow the seed in rows rather 

 thickly and then thin out to the desired distance after the 

 worst injury is over. Others make several plantings in each 

 hill at intervals of a week, but the former plan will ensure 

 earlier growth. Plants may be protected by keeping them 

 well covered with almost any sort of dust, which must be 

 applied to both the upper and lower surfaces of leaves while 

 the dew is on. This must be repeated as the dust is blown 

 or washed off and as the plant grows. Air-slaked lime mixed 

 with sulphur, and tobacco dust, have been found beneficial. 

 Bordeaux mixture repels the beetles, but seems to have a 

 stunting effect on the young plants. Thorough spraying with 

 arsenate of lead, three to five pounds per barrel, seems to repel 

 the beetles better than any other substance. Possibly dust- 

 ing with powdered arsenate of lead would be as satisfactory. 

 Cleaning up and destroying the vines as soon as the crop is 

 gathered will deprive the beetles of food and force them to 

 seek other hibernating places, thus increasing the mortality. 

 151. Squash Bugs.* Where leaves of squash and melon 

 vines are found to be wilting here and there just as they 

 are commencing to run, a careful examination will usually 

 reveal the presence of a slate-colored bug (13), about three- 

 fourths inch long, the common squash bug. At night or early 

 in the morning the bugs are usually found beneath rubbish 

 or clods of earth. The brownish eggs are laid in character- 

 istic masses on the under surfaces of the leaves, and hatch 

 in from one to two weeks. The young bugs are brilliantly 

 colored, the antennae and legs being bright crimson, the head 

 and anterior thorax a lighter crimson, and the posterior 

 thorax and abdomen a bright green, but in a little while the 

 crimson changes to jet black. They become full grown in 

 four or five weeks. In the North there is but a single gener- 

 * Anasa tristis DeG. Family Coreidce, see page 59. 



