BEAN PESTS 



577 



and the adults emerge. There is an over- 

 lapping of broods so that during the sum- 

 mer months all stages may be found. 



Dislribiitioii 



The bean thrips are found in Idaho, 

 California, Arizona and Kentucky. 



Food Plants 



Due to its large numbers this insect 

 has proved a serious pest to oranges, 

 alfalfa, pear trees and various garden 

 crops, the work being the same as that 

 of other members of the family. 



Control 



Control measures for this pest are the 

 same as recommended for pear, citrus or 

 grain thrips, depending upon the plants 

 which are infested. See Pear. 



A flour paste consisting of from six to 

 eight pounds of cheap flour to 100 gallons 

 of water and applied thoroughly has 

 given excellent results in controlling this 

 pest upon truck crops, such as beans, 

 peas, beets, etc., which have tender 

 foliage. E. O. Essig 



Flea Beetle 

 Systena blanda 



Several flea beetles attack field beans. 

 Probably the most troublesome is the 

 pale-striped flea beetle. It is only during 



hot, dry summers that these tiny crea- 

 tures make their attacks, but at such 

 times they are likely to appear in myriads 

 in fields of beans and sugar beets, as 

 well as in all sorts of garden truck. 



The name flea beetle is suggested by 

 their habit of jumping when disturbed, 

 very much like a flea. 



The beetles themselves are only about 

 one-eighth of an inch in length and 

 creamy in color, with thin, longitudinal 

 stripes of light brown on the wing covers. 

 The larvae are slender, thread-like crea- 

 tures, white in color with yellowish 

 heads. They feed underground on the 

 roots of weeds for the most part. 



The effect of many tiny beetles eating 

 holes in the foliage is to shrive! the 

 leaves and, if the plants are very small, 

 to kill them outright. 



Remedies 



The beetles winter as adults, which at 

 once suggests the burning of rubbish 

 about the farm and in the fence corners. 



Bordeaux is a very valuable repellent. 

 Bordeaux, however, is apt to burn the 

 leaves of beans and arsenate of lead is 

 probably the safest and best remedy. 

 R. H. Pettitt, 

 East Lansing, Mich. 



'all' Striped Flea Beetle. Enlarged. 

 i.\utbor's Illustration.) 



