244 



TXSEOTS IXJURIOrS TO STAPLE TROPS. 



grower stands the Colorado Potato-beetle — the insect which 

 in the early seventies, on account of our ignorance of \t, 

 was made an entomological bugbear. But '^there's no 

 great loss without some small gain," and we may be 

 thankful that the invasion of this beetle also brought 

 about the use of Paris green, an insecticide which has 

 since saved thousands upon thousands of dollars to the 

 American farmer. Thus, with an effectual remedy which 



Fig. 138. — The Colorado Potato-beetle {Lepiinotarsa decemlineata 

 Say.), a, eggs; h, larvji?; c, pupa; d, beetle; e, elytra or wing- 

 cover of beetle; /, leg of beetle. (After Riley.) 



is now used where this pest occurs as regularly as potatoes 

 are planted, ^^familiarity" has '^bred contempt," and 

 to-day we have but little fear of its attack. 



History. — As is probably known to most of the older 

 generation who watched its spread eastward, the Colorado 

 Potato-beetle, as its name indicates, was a native of the 

 Rocky Mountain region, and until about 1855 was satisfied 

 with feeding upon various common weeds of the same 



