herrick] SOME ENEMIES OF THE GARDEN 117 



Enemies of Cucumbers and Squashes 



The delicate young plants of cucumbers, squash and melons 

 are often destroyed by the striped cucumber beetle; and if they 

 survive this pest, as full grown vines, they may be attacked by 

 the squash bug and the squash vine borer. 



The Striped Cucumber Beetle: This little pest is about a quarter 

 of an inch long and has a black head with wing covers of orange 

 yellow with three black lines down the back ; this striped uniform 

 suggests that this little rascal ought to be in prison but he usually 

 isn't. The beetles appear early in the spring before the cucumbers 

 are up and feed on nearly everything they can find. When the 

 cucumber plants appear above the ground the beetles begin at 

 once to feed on the first tender leaves riddling them with holes. 

 Later they feed on the blossoms especially the pollen and on the 

 foliage of the vines. They are ravenous eaters, often very abund- 

 ant and persistent in their attacks and in many gardens cause the 

 most severe injury. 



Their yellowish eggs are laid in cracks and crevices of the soil 

 where they hatch into white slender larvae that burrow into the 

 tissues of the roots of the vines. The larvae cause some injury 

 to the roots but it is not as severe as the injury caused by the beetles 

 on the vines. 



Clean culture about the borders of the garden to destroy the 

 hibernating places of the beetles and to prevent the growth of 

 the weeds in the early spring is of considerable value in the fight 

 against this insect. 



Young plants may be protected with screened boxes or covers. 

 A box without top or bottom set over the hill and then covered 

 over the top with muslin or wire screening will protect the plants 

 from early injury. A barrel hoop cut in half and the pieces crossed 

 in the middle with the ends stuck in the ground and then covered 

 with muslin will serve the same purpose. Any cover of this kind 

 must be removed after the vines begin to run. 



Dusting plants heavily at frequent intervals with air-slaked lime 

 or tobacco dust will repel the beetles and if persistently followed up 

 will protect the plants satisfactorily. 



Spraying the plants and keeping them well covered with paste 

 arsenate of lead, 2 pounds to 50 gallons of water or Bordeaux 

 mixture is effective. 



The Squash Bug: This is another insect that thrusts his bill 

 into the plant tissues and sucks up the juices. When it is full 



