INSECTS. 303 



a crop, by killing the plants when in full growth and fruit- 

 age, by cutting off all the fibres. 



REMEDY. 'The full-grown insects are very busy in the 

 evening, but become stupid and lethargic before morning, 

 clinging to the leaves and twigs, when they may be shaken 

 down, caught on sheets, gathered, and destroyed. If let 

 alone, they will fall to the ground toward day break, and 

 secrete themselves in the grass and soil until night. All 

 that can be killed in this stage of their existence, the bet- 

 ter, as this will prevent the deposition of innumerable eggs. 

 The White Grubs must be destroyed one at a time in cul- 

 tivated grounds ; kill them whenever found. Encourage 

 chickens and birds to follow the plow and spade, as they 

 will consume great numbers. Hogs will find and eat them 

 greedily, and may be allowed to root them out even from 

 a meadow, if badly affected ; for, though a harsh remedy, 

 it is not so bad as the disease. 



Pelidnota punctata, or the Spotted Pelidnota, is a large 

 yellowish insect, with a black dot on each side of the thorax, 

 and three others on the outer side of each wing-cover. 

 It is found in the day time, upon the leaves of the grape 

 vine. Like the rest of the tribe, these insects are vora- 

 cious, and the grubs may also feed upon the roots of the 

 grape ; therefore they had better be destroyed, though as 

 their numbers are seldom large they are not found to be 

 very injurious. 



Haltica chalybca, or the Grape Vine Flea-beetle, appears 

 early in the season, and eats holes in the buds and leaves. 

 It is small, 0.16 inch long, oval; shining, deep greenish-blue, 

 or deep green, or purple. This insect spends the winter in 

 the earth about the roots of the vine, and feeds upon them. 



