THE SQUASH BUG 23 



Further observations showed that toads in confinement 

 would eat squash bugs when very hungry, but we do not 

 think that toads ordinarily devour many of the pests. 



Egg Parasites. — Two parasites on tlie ^^^ of the squash 

 bug have been recorded in Mr. Chittenden's article. In 

 Florida these parasites have been known to destroy thirty per 

 cent, of the eggs of the pest, although it is stated that they 

 " appear in the field too late to be of any great service" in 

 preventing damage that season. But they must help to lessen 

 the number of bugs that will be present the next season. 

 None of these parasites was found by us in New Hampshire 

 during the season. The introduction of some from more 

 southern latitudes is one of the measiu'es we are considering 

 for future action. 



A Eungous Disease. — In case of a small percentage of bugs 

 that died, careful investigation proved that it was not due to 

 the effects of the tachinid parasite. Tiie body was somewhat 

 shriveled after death. A careful examination of the tissues from 

 various parts of the body revealed the presence of the mycel- 

 ium of some fungus. This mycelium, however, was never 

 found in a condition for identification. 



Mr. Chittenden reports that a similar fungus found by him 

 was thought to be '^ a conidial stage of some cordyceps." He 

 also mentions a bacterial disease to which the bug is subject ; 

 we have seen no signs of this, however, in our New Hamp- 

 shire studies. 



REMEDIAL AND PREVENTIVE MEASURES 



It seems to us probable that in the near future the squash 

 bug will make the growing of squashes on a small scale so 

 difficult that the crop will be chiefly grown by specialists who 

 will devote such care and attention to their fields that they are 

 able to bring their plants through all vicissitudes. This has 

 happened in the case of many other crops. It is no longer 

 practicable, chiefly on account of insect and fungous enemies, 

 to grow a few peaches in the garden, yet the commercial 

 growers make a success of this crop. The case is similar 

 with most fruits and many vegetables. 



There are two chief reasons why the specialist with a large 

 area planted is able to succeed where his neighbor with a 



