26 THE SQUASH BUG 



of the kerowater sprayers, a subject discussed more fully in a 

 later paragraph. Tlie eggs should also be destroyed. 



During the weeks of late spring, when the bugs are con- 

 stantly flying in from the surrounding region, the vines will 

 need to be gone over at least twice a day in regions badly 

 infested. The pests come most abundantly during the 

 warmer hours. They are then most active and more difficult 

 to catch than during the cooler hours of morning and evening, 

 but much damage will be prevented by going over the vines 

 about noon. The other picking may be done in the evening 

 or early morning. When collected, the bugs may be killed 

 by crushing, or perhaps thrown into a pail containing kero- 

 sene and water. The latter will probably be easier in the 

 case of good-sized areas. 



2. From board traps. — It has long been known that if 

 small boards, such as old shingles, are laid loosely upon the 

 ground beside the squash vines a large proportion of the bugs 

 will congregate under these at night, so that they are easily 

 collected the next morning. This is well worth practising in 

 connection with the hand picking of the vines. 



3. From trap squash plants. — The squash bugs, as already 

 indicated, have a decided preference for squashes rather than 

 cucumbers, melons, or other similar vines. In growing the 

 other crops this fact may v-ell be taken advantage of, by 

 planting squashes between the other hills, and a week or so 

 earlier. The attack of the bugs will thus be concentrated 

 upon the squashes, and the hand picking will be more effec- 

 tive. Even in fields of squashes the method may be employed 

 to advantage by planting extra squash seeds between the regu- 

 lar hills, and, if practicable, planting them earlier than the 

 main crop. Of course these trap plants, with whatever eggs 

 there maybe upon them, are to be pulled up and so treated as 

 to destroy the eggs before the latter begin to hatch. 



hi Su7timer 



From the vines and ground. — As the season advances the 

 combating of the pest becomes a more difficult problem. 

 The full grown bugs have laid eggs early in the season ; these 

 hatch and the young nymphs are less conspicuous than the 



