REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I918 59 



bilities are that many of the insects succumbed in the larval state 

 since there was a considerable flight and much local injury to foliage 

 in 191 7. 



A judicious rotation of crops and the exercise of moderate care 

 in planting com, potatoes and other susceptible crops upon land 

 badly infested by young grubs will assist greatly in avoiding injury 

 in subsequent years. The marked three-year periodicity of attacks 

 should be kept in mind since it is a valuable guide in anticipating 

 and safeguarding against losses by these pests. 



Black flea-beetle (Epitrix cucumeris Harr.) . There was 

 unusual trouble from this insect, specially in the vicinity of Pough- 

 keepsie, where potatoes and particularly recently transplanted 

 tomatoes suffered severely. There were also reports of considerable 

 damage in other parts of the State, notably in Broome, Monroe and 

 Suffolk counties. This insect is one of the common garden pests 

 ordinarily appearing in early spring and feeding upon a variety of 

 young plants, though it displays a marked preference for potato, 

 tomato and tobacco. The small beetles eat out characteristic oval 

 skeletonized areas which soon turn brown and in the case of badly 

 affected leaves the appearance suggests riddling with fine birdshot. 

 This insect not only damages the plants but the numerous feeding 

 places promote infection by blight or fungus. This latter may be 

 more serious than the work of the beetle. The pest usually disappears 

 before serious damage has been caused. The small black beetles, 

 only about one-sixteenth of an inch long, winter in various shelters, 

 feed for a time as indicated above and lay their eggs upon the roots 

 of some of the common weeds. The young or grubs mine the roots 

 and have been associated with " pimply " potatoes. 



•The general habits of this insect emphasize the value of clean 

 cultivation since such procedure reduces the food supply of the grubs 

 and there are consequently fewer beetles another season. The out- 

 break described above appeared to be rather closely related to weedy 

 fields or weeds in the vicinity of the affected plants. The appearance 

 of the small beetles should be a sign for thorough spraying with 

 a poison such as arsenate of lead, using 2 or 3 pounds to 50 gallons 

 of water and if necessary making a second application a few daj'^s 

 to a week later. Paris green added to the bordeaux mixture is also 

 an excellent preventive. Young tomato plants should not be set on 

 ground where there are numerous flea-beetles without first protecting 

 them by spraying or dipping in one of the poisons mentioned above. 

 Dusting the plants with air slaked lime^ 13] aster of paris, soot, coal 

 ashes or even road dust affords considerable protection. 



