BULLETIN 1243, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



By the fall of 1920 the bean crop about Birmingham and Blocton 

 Ala., was destroyed by the bean beetle. In 1921 the infestation was 

 extremely severe, and most of the early bean crop was destroyed. 





-kh* 



l& 



^'Sv s ; >ci 



&* 



^5 " 



s^^fcw 



KSft*'* 



S*£ 



Fig. 1. — Bush snap beans destroyed by the Mexican bean beetle at Birmingham, Ala. Velvet 

 beans adjacent were not attacked. 



By August 1 there was hardly a bean field in bearing near Birming- 

 ham. (PI. I, A, B.) Reports of severe damage came also from 

 other points in northern Alabama. 



Fig. 2. — Destruction of pole lima beans by the Mexican bean beetle at Birmingham, Ala. 



In 1921 the price of snap beans and Lima beans rose to unusual 

 levels on the Birmingham markets, owing to the practical destruction 

 by this insect of bean plantings in the district. At Chattanooga, 



