BOOT CROPS. 49 



The female lays the eggs (Fig. 20 C) chiefly on the 

 under surfaces of the leaves of the potato plant. When 

 hatched, the eggs give rise to orange-coloured larvae (Fig. 

 20 B). These feed upon the leaves, causing great havoc 

 amongst the potato crops of the United States of America. 

 The larvae turn to the pupal stage in the ground. 



The Colorado beetle appears to be indigenous to North 

 America. Its original home was the Western States 

 (Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado) ; but it is now to 

 be found in other States besides those mentioned, and most 

 probably aU over the North American Continent. 



J«. 



Fig. 20. ^Colorado Beetle {Leptinotarsa decemlineata) . 



A. The beetle (nat. size). 



B. Larva (nat. size). 



C. Eggs (nat. size). 



It was first identified in Great Britain by the late Mr. 

 A. Murray, F.L.S., in 1877. Up to the present time 

 British potato crops have not suffered from the ravages of 

 this destructive beetle. 



Cure. Mix three ozs. of the arsenical compound (copper 



arsenite) known as " Scheele's green," with two gallons 

 of water, and water the infested plants with the mixture. 

 'For other remedies and the numerous appliances for dis- 

 tributing the same,— see The Fourth Eeport of the United 

 States Entomological Commission (pp. 120-321). 



The Death's Head Moth (Acherontia atropos) is 

 the largest moth in England, and, according to Swainson, 



