INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CELERY 93 



sene emulsion, but it will be necessary to also treat 

 the surrounding weeds as well as the celery. 



The Carrot Rust Fly (Psila rosac)\ This insect, 

 which ordinarily works upon carrots, has recently 

 been reported as injurious to celery in New York 

 State and Canada. The larvae seemed to begin eat- 

 ing into the thick part of the root when the plant is 

 about half grown, injuring the growth and render- 

 ing the plant unfit for market. 



The Celery Looper (Plusia simplex) 1 . The lar- 

 vae of this insect feeds upon the leaves of the celery, 

 and in appearance it is similar to the cabbage looper. 

 The color is a pale yellowish green, and it is about 

 1^2 inches in length when fully extended. Poultry 

 are efficient at catching the celery looper in the larva 

 stage. Dusting the plants with plaster or air-slaked 

 lime and Paris green mixed at the rate of 3/2 pound 

 of Paris green to 20 pounds of plaster will generally 

 prove effectual. 



Mice and Rats. Field mice have been known to 

 injure celery, especially while it is being blanched 

 with boards. Rats will damage celery in the stor- 

 age house or pit by working among it and some- 

 times eating the stalks and roots. As a rule rodents 

 will not eat celery until other foods become very 

 scarce and they damage the stored crop more from 

 breaking the stalks, making nests in the covering 

 materials, and by burrowing holes which let in cold 

 air and cause the celery to freeze during the 

 winter. Catching in traps and hunting with dogs 



1 From Chittenden in U. S. Dept. of Agr. Bui. No. 33, Bureau of 

 Entomology. 



