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NATURAL ENEMIES. 



No parasitic or predacious insects have, to the writer's knowledge, 

 been found to attack this insect, but it seems probable that since the 

 larva lives freely exposed on its host plant that it is preyed upon by 

 species of predaceous and probably also parasitic insects. 



On some of the plants of evening primrose upon which larvae were 

 observed were numerous individuals of the spotted ladybird, Megilla 

 maculata, and there are the best of reasons for believing that this is 

 a natural enemy, although none of the ladybird beetles were actually 

 observed to attack the flea-beetle larvae during the time that the latter 

 were under observation in the field. 



REMEDIES. 



In the treatment of the strawberry flea-beetle we have to follow 

 much the same methods as previously prescribed in the case of the 

 pale-striped flea-beetle. As with that insect, the best remedy is 

 undoubtedly one of the arsenicals, Paris green or arsenate of lead 

 being among the most useful, applied preferably in the form of a 

 spray upon the first appearance of the insects in the gardens. As Bor- 

 deaux mixture is known to be a repellent of considerable value against 

 flea-beetles, such arsenical as is used should be mixed with this fungi- 

 cide. It will then serve also to a certain extent a double purpose of 

 protecting the plants against fungous attack. 



It is not desirable to use the poisonous sprays at the time of fruit- 

 ing of the crop, and at this time dusting the foliage with lime would 

 serve to drive the beetles away. 



In cases where the beetles have been injurious for two or more years 

 in succession, it would be advisable to apply the poisons to the wild larval 

 food plants, and afterwards to prevent these growing in abundance 

 where they would become an infesting source. It seems probable 

 that most instances of attack could be traced directly to the beetles 

 having bred in great numbers upon evening primrose or related plants 

 growing in the immediate vicinity. 



THE FALL ARMY WORM IN 1899. 



(Laphygma frugiperdu S. and A.) 



Among the destructive insect pests of the season of 1899, and as 

 troublesome, perhaps, as any insect of that year, if we take into con- 

 sideration the large number of crops and the great area of territory 

 affected, was the fall army worm, or grass worm of the South 

 (Laphygma Jhigiperda, Smith and Abbot). The season was marked 

 by unprecedented outbreaks over a very considerable portion of the 

 United States east of the Rocky Mountain region, injury being reported 



