8o 



AGRICULTURE. 



eggs before these hatch. Why does the eating off of the 

 leaves above ground injure the plant in producing tubers under 

 ground ? 



Fig. 33. Colorado beetle or " potato bug." a, eggs on underside of leaf; 6, larva that 

 eats the leaves ; c, pupa ; d, imago or perfect insect ; e , wing-cover ; /, leg. 



The turnip flea-beetle is sometimes wrongly called "the turnip 

 fly." Our illustration shows the shape of the beetle and the 

 larva much larger than life. The little 

 black beetles pass the winter under any 

 rubbish or clods of earth, and in the 

 spring seek out some weeds near by that 

 belong to the same family as the turnip, 

 such as mustaid and shepherd's purse. 



As soon as the young turnips appear above ground they 

 do great damage by eating holes in the leaves. One of the 

 remedies appears to be the keeping of the ground clean of 

 rubbish and the destruction of all weeds, especially wild mustard 

 or charlock, false flax, shepherd's purse, pepper-grass, etc. The 

 beetles lay their eggs on the roots of the turnip. In a few 

 days the larvae or grubs hatch out and feed upon the roots. 



Fig. 34. The turnip flea- 

 beetle. 



