INSECTS AND DISEASES /7 



Michigan and New York. In the southern and 

 western states it often becomes very troublesome 

 both to the pickle and melon grower, especially to 

 the cantaloupe grower. The larvae first attack the 

 plants by eating holes in the leaves and young 

 stems, later attacking the blossom buds, destroying 

 many young fruits in this way, and then later on 

 attacking the growing fruit by eating holes through 

 the rind, enough to render it worthless, and then 

 passing on to others, treating them in the same way. 

 The southern grower, who is raising cantaloupes 

 for the northern market often suffers heavy loss 

 from the attacks of this insect. 



Remedies. — So far as known to the writer, no suc- 

 cessful remedy for this insect has ever been discov- 

 ered, although a free use of the arsenical sprays, 

 such as are used against the striped beetle and other 

 leaf-eating insects, may be expected to give some 

 relief. Rotation of crops and other up-to-date 

 methods of farming are also recommended. Fall 

 plowing the melon field is also a good practice, es- 

 pecially in the more northern and middle states. 



The Melon Caterpillar (Diaphania hyalinata, 

 Linn.). — This species is closely related to the pickle 

 moth, and they resemble each other in many re- 

 spects in both the adult and larval stages. In this 

 case, however, the larva confines its attacks mostly 

 to the foliage of the muskmelon, especially during 

 the early part of the season. It is confined almost 

 exclusively to the southern states. 



Remedy. — As it begins its attacks on the foliage, 

 it may be easily held in check by spraying with one 

 of the arsenical compounds. 



