INSECT PESTS OF GARDEN AND FIELD 213 
prit by scraping the loose earth away from around the roots. 
Plants may generally be protected from cutworms by fold- 
ing a piece of stiff paper around the stem so that it will reach 
an inch into the ground and 
two or three inches above the 
surface. 
Cutworms are the caterpil- 
lars of various species of moths 
that lay their eggs on plants 
near the ground during the lat- 
ter part of the summer. The 
young at first feed upon the 
roots of grasses and other 
plants, but the tender seed- 
lings of the garden and the 
field seem to please their appe- 
tite better. 
The Striped Cucumber 
Dincy CuTworm 
a, moth; 0, larva or worm; c, moth 
with wings folded. 
Beetle is a small, flat-bodied, greenish yellow beetle with 
two black stripes upon each wing cover. The adult feeds on 
» the leaves of cucumbers, melons, squashes, and 
pumpkins, being especially injurious to cu- 
cumbers. It appears on the vines soon after 
they are up and at once devours them unless 
the attack is prevented. As the usual insect 
poisons are apt to injure these plants, the most 
Beats ey effective way to protect them is to cover them 
BER BerETLE while young with netting. If there are too 
Enlarged. 
many plants for this treatment, then coal 
ashes, or lime mixed with powdered charcoal or fine dust, 
may be sifted on the leaves while they are wet with dew or 
rain. 
