SMALL BEETLES I^'JrBING LEAF AND STEM 151 



There is one brood of tliis species in the North, but in the South two 

 generations are recorded. The adults hibernate in any convenient 

 shelter or in the ground. 



Where possible, young plants should be protected with cloth or wire 

 screen until they have got a start. Lacking this, it is wise to plant an 

 excess of seed, thus allowing for the thinning that the pest will do. 



It is difficult to poison the beetles, because they will hunt out parts 

 of the stem or leaves, or later the inside of the flowers, where the sur- 



FiG. 153. — Plants protected with cloth screens, to prevent injury 

 by the Striped Cucumber Beetle. Original. 



face is not coated with a spray material. Nevertheless, considerable 

 protection is afforded by spraying thoroughly with arsenate of lead, 

 using 4 or 5 pounds to 50 gallons of water. 



Many repellents have been tried, but most are of little use when the 

 beetles are numerous, and their effect seems to last only a short time. 

 Probably the best is drj^-slaked or air-slaked hme with which has been 

 mixed flowers of sulphur. Fine road dust or tobacco dust will drive 

 them away from the plants temporarily. 



Beans or squashes planted ahead of the main crop will in a measure 

 protect the latter. Removal of crop remnants, and general cleaning 

 up of the garden in the fall, will help to avert serious injury the next 

 season. 



