36 



placed. "Working where it does, however, this method of treat- 

 ment is not available and others must be employed instead, no one 

 of which should be relied upon alone, but all be used together. 



Fall harrowing of the fields where squashes have been grown 

 during the summer is very effective. This brings the cocoons up 

 from where the insects had placed themselves, to the surface where 

 they are exposed to freezing and thawing during the winter. This, 

 followed by plowing in spring to a depth of more than six inches, 

 will destroy many of the insects. 



Good results are also obtained by planting a few summer squashes, 

 such as cymblins or crooknecks, as early as possible, before the 

 main crop, and between the rows which they are to occupy. Such 

 trap plants attract more of the borers, which leave the later vari- 

 eties comparatively unmolested. Of course as soon as the crop 

 from these trap plants has been gathered, or when the ground they 

 occupy is needed (if later than the last of July) , the vines should 

 be raked up and burned to destroy any eggs or caterpillars they 

 may contain. 



When the borers have once attacked a vine, nothing better than 

 cutting them out is available. If the vines be watched during 

 July the presence of borers is soon shown by the presence of the 

 yellowish, powdery excrement of the caterpillars which is forced 

 out from the stem to the ground beneath. When such traces of 

 the presence of borers are found the stem of the plant should be 

 split lengthwise and the borers be taken out and killed, after which 

 the split should be covered with dirt to aid in healing. If the 

 plants have been induced to throw out roots at different points 

 along the stems, by covering them with a little earth at intervals 

 as they grow the injury caused by splitting the stems to get out 

 the borers is greatly lessened. 



Catching and destroying the moths as they fly about the plants 

 has also been practised in some places with good success. 



Besides the squash, the pumpkin, gourd, muskmelon and cucum- 

 ber are sometimes attacked by this insect. 



Striped Cucumber Beetle. 



(Diabrotica vittata Fab.) 



This insect is a general nuisance over the greater part of the 

 United States. The black and yellow stripes along its back make 

 it very noticeable, while the injury it causes is frequently so great 

 as to almost prevent the raising of cucumbers at all. 



About the time the young cucumber plants are just appearing 

 above ground, and frequently even earlier, the beetles leave the 



