8 



beetle as known at that time, its method of attack, and some sugges- 

 tions regarding remedies. 



The sugar-cane beetle measures from one-half to five-eighths of an 

 inch (15 to 18 mm.) in length, is jet black above and black and 

 piceous beneath; head rougiily shagreened; thorax with minute 

 rather sj^arse punctures; el3^tra with longitudinal stria? and many 

 small punctures; thorax and elytra polished and shining; on each 

 wing cover near the tip a smooth, slightly elevated prominence, be- 

 yond which the elytra, are abruptly truncate; abdomen projecting 

 slightly beyond the tips of the elytra. The legs are coarsely spined, 

 the front tibise being broad and armed Avith four large, broad teeth. 

 This species can be readily separated from the rice beetle (Chalepus 

 trachypygus Burm.) by its smaller size and more parallel sides. The 

 rice beetle is more rounded across the thorax and elytra. The carrot 

 beetle {Ligyriis gibtosus DeG.) is distinguished readily by the under 

 side of the abdomen being quite densely covered with reddish hair. 



HABITS AND ]METHOD OF ATTACK. 



At the time of the first trip in 190-1 much of the sugar cane was 

 from 10 to 18 inches high. The previous season had been rather 

 unfavorable, owing to excessively dry weather, and in some fields the 

 cane was sprouting poorly. Plant cane continued to sprout and push 

 through the ground mitil late in June, and many of the buds on 

 mother cane that were examined in April and May had died from 

 lack of sufficient moisture. 



During the four Aveeks of the first trip the principal cane-growing 

 regions of Louisiana Avere A^isited, special attention being paid to 

 plantations at OliA^er, Berwick, Morgan City, Broussard, and St. 

 James. At all places A'isited the beetle was found injuring cane 

 severely. In some of the districts it Avas reported that this Avas the 

 first year there had been serious injury, but most of the planters 

 interAdewed stated that the}^ had had more or less loss from the beetles 

 for seA^eral years. Those Avho had been raising cane for long periods 

 could recall records of injuries at varying inter A^als for the past forty- 

 llA^e or fifty years. Especial injury Avas reported to haA^e occurred in 

 1884, 1880, 1876, 1872, and once before the civil war— about 1856-57. 

 At times, in some areas, almost the entire cane and corn crops had 

 been cut clown. 



This past year (1904) the beetles commenced work on the cane 

 before the tips had appeared aboA^e the ground and continued until 

 early in July to do serious damage. The injury to corn began as 

 soon as the corn appeared above ground, whole fields being, in many 

 cases, completely laid bare; and CA^en the second planting Avas 

 clestrovecl. 



