TURNIP RAW FLY. 



HARMFUL TO CROPS. 227 



face caterpillars, and, therefore, horse dung must 

 not be placed on lands where they are known to 

 exist. Ploughing and birds are again the best 

 remedy. 



Turnip Flea Beetle, or Turnip Fly. Perhaps 

 you have been asking a 

 farmer : " Well, how about 

 the roots ? " and he may 

 answer : " Oh, I have got the 

 fly." Strictly speaking, he* 

 means the turnip beetle. 



The turnip beetle is from one-tenth to one- 

 eighth of an inch long, egg-shaped, black, with 

 streaks of a sulphur-yellow colour on the wing 

 covers. The caterpillar or larva is one-fifth of 

 an inch long, yellowish-white in colour, with a 

 dark brown head. 



The beetle begins its attack in the spring, and 

 in all cases the young plants are devoured. Seed 

 leaves and terminal buds are eaten ; especially is 

 the damage great in dry weather, because in dry 

 weather the plant cannot grow fast enough to 

 push quickly enough past the young leaf stage. 

 As soon as the young leaves appear they are 

 devoured ; and, in consequence, the health of 

 the whole plant is damaged. 



The grub of the beetle is not so destructive as 

 the beetle itself, because the grub generally 

 attacks the older leaves. 



