50 



CIRCULAR 2 7 0, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



long, and light gray, dirty white, or yellowish (fig. 58) . They begin 

 feeding in the trees at once and may be found in the orchards for 

 about 2 months. For the most part they remain quietly between the 

 buds or among the foliage but fly out in warm weather if the trees are 

 shaken or sprayed. Eggs are simply dropped to the ground, where 



Figure 57. — Immature cherries injured by syneta leaf beetle. 



they are very difficult to find because of their small size. The eggs 

 hatch in 2 or 3 weeks, usually just after a rain or in damp weather, as 

 the young grubs find it difficult to survive in dry soil. The grubs 

 burrow into the ground, where they feed on the fine fibrous roots of 

 the trees and in this way do a certain amount of damage. Feeding- 

 continues throughout the summer and fall. 

 The grubs remain in the soil during the winter, 

 forming small cells early in the spring. With- 

 in these cells they change to pupae and then to 

 beetles. 



CONTROL 



The injury caused by the beetles may be 

 greatly reduced by spraying the trees twice 

 very thoroughly with lead arsenate at the rate 

 of 4 pounds to 100 gallons of water. The first 

 application should be made just before the blossoms open, that is, 

 when the tips of the white petals are beginning to show, and the second 

 just after the petals have dropped. In severe infestations a third 

 application may be made as soon as the husks have fallen. The ap- 

 plication made just after blooming is the most effective of the three, 

 and if the trees are sprayed only once, the spraying should be done at 

 that time. Fungicides for controlling brown rot may be used with 

 any of these sprays. 



Figure 58. — Syneta leaf 

 beetles, male and female. 

 About X l}i 



