U. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 109, Part I. T. C. & S. P. I. I., November 6, 1911. 



PAPERS ON INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETABLES. 



THE HAWAIIAN BEET WEBWORM. 



(Hymenia fascialis Cram.) 



By H. O. Marsh, 

 Agent, engaged in Sugar-Beet and Truck-Crop Insect Investigations. 



INTRODUCTORY. 



During the latter half of 1910 the author was engaged in a study 

 of insects affecting truck crops in the Hawaiian Islands. The enemies 

 of beets and of the so-called spinach (Amaranthus sp.) were among 

 the insects which were studied. The species injurious to these two 

 crops had previously received very little study from an economic 

 standpoint, and the necessity of such study was further enhanced by 

 the fact that a land company was experimenting with sugar beets on 

 the island of Lanai 1 with the intention of growing this crop on a 

 large scale, if it should offer promise of becoming profitable. 



In the vicinity of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, vegetables are 

 grown in commercial gardens, managed by Chinese or Japanese. In 

 a general sense, these growers may be considered "good farmers" 

 although they have little regard for the necessity of clean culture and 

 seldom make any intelligent effort to combat insect pests or plant 

 diseases. In the rare cases where an effort is made to cope with such 

 troubles, the methods employed are extremely crude. Practically all 

 cultivation is done by hand, except that occasionally the water 

 buffalo is used for plowing the land before the crops are planted. 

 From the Oriental point of view this plowing is considered sufficient 

 if the surface of the ground is scratched to the depth of a few inches. 

 The fertilizing material used is in liquid form. It is prepared by 

 soaking stable manure or other refuse material in water and is 

 applied directly about the plants. 



Table beets and " spinach " are produced exclusively for the local 

 market. These vegetables are grown in beds, in a peculiar manner, 

 which Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn has aptly designated "the graveyard 

 style." The beds, which are very often about 10 yards long by 1 



x The sixth largest island of the group. 



