242 Bush-Fruits 



they emerge in great numbers, all at once, a habit common to other 

 beetles of the class to which they belong. This occurs about the time 

 that grapes are in blossom. The favorite food of 

 the mature beetle consists of flowers, especially those 

 of the rose, grape, spirea, sumach, magnolia, etc. ; but 

 the foliage of nearly all plants also suffers. In one 

 report of their ravages in New Jersey, Professor 

 Smith says: "Of the small fruits, the blackberries 

 seemed very attractive. They were on each blossom, 

 and ate the petals but left the green forming fruit. 

 Last year they ate the leaves as well, and left only 

 Fig. 30. Rose t he canes. This year they left the leaves. Raspber- 

 ries were totally destroyed." 



Although occurring throughout the greater portion of the northern 

 half of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, it appears 

 to be more or less local in its habits, for in parts of central New York 

 and northern Pennsylvania it is seldom or never seen. In the Gulf 

 states and the extreme southwest the species is replaced by other 

 closely allied ones. These, though very similar in appearance are 

 usually less destructive. 



Remedies. Many remedies have been tried against this insect, but 

 usually with very unsatisfactory results. Ordinary spraying has af- 

 forded little relief. The insects either avoid the poison or are af- 

 fected so slowly that little benefit results. Recently it has been found 

 that sweetening arsenate of lead with molasses or glucose gives much 

 better results. Four pounds of the lead arsenate and one gallon of 

 molasses to fifty gallons of water are the proportions recommended. 

 It should be applied as soon as the beetles appear and repeated if 

 necessary. Thorough cultivation of the soil when the insect is in 

 the pupa stage, during late May and early June, is thought to de- 

 stroy many of them. Waste grass lands which afford breeding- 

 grounds for the pest are objectionable in the vicinity. 

 References. 



N. J. Expt. Sta. Bull. 82. 

 Geneva, N. Y., Expt. Sta. Bull. 331. 

 U. S. Bur. Ent. Giro. 11 and Bull. 97. 

 Hartzell, Jour. EC. Ent. IV, 19. 



