NOTES ON THE STRIPED CUCUMBER BEETLE. 49 



METHODS OF CONTROL, 



The methods of dealing with this insect that have been employed with 

 greatest success in the past have been considered in Circular No. 31, 

 second series, of this Division. A considerable correspondence during 

 the year (1898) adds somewhat to our knowledge of remedial measures. 

 With an insect so difficult to control, the testimony of our correspond- 

 ents as to the efficacy of the remedies described in the circular, as well 

 as of others employed by them, is worth recording. 



DETERRENTS. 



Sulphur. — May 13, Mr. Charles H". Ainslie wrote that this species 

 is extremely numerous and injurious at Rochester, Minn., sometimes 

 skeletonizing the leaves of mature plants (cucurbits). He states that 

 he has successfully used for years the remedy of dusting the plants while 

 the dew is on them with flowers of sulphur. u This adheres to the leaves, 

 both above and below, if properly applied, and is very distasteful to 

 the insects. I have never known this remedy to fail." 



Plaster. — Mr. H. L. Frost writes that the market gardeners in the 

 vicinity of Boston, Mass., find no trouble in protecting their plants by 

 the simple use of plaster three or four times during the season. 



Ashes and road dust. — Mr. M. J. Furlong, Fisher, Minn., writing August 

 11, stated that the farmers of his vicinity have no difficulty in keeping 

 this insect in check by dusting the plants with sifted ashes or road dust 

 while the dew is on them or after a rain. Ashes are preferred. 



Mr. George Caswell, Dayton, Ohio, writes June 17, that during an 

 active experience of about forty years he has found, all things con- 

 sidered, that there is nothing that will equal dry wood ashes sprinkled 

 on the vines when damp for ridding cucurbits of insects of all kinds. 

 A sharp lookout, he adds, is necessary, however, to prevent the insect 

 from getting the best of the plants as soon as they appear above ground. 



INSECTICIDES, ETC. 



Mr. J. C. Andrus wrote May 15, that this species is injurious in 

 Manchester, Scott County, 111., and destructive on all species of Cucur- 

 bita, Citrulas, and Cucumis; that the beetles appear from the first to 

 the middle of May on cotyledons and seed stems, and that they remain 

 until the cold weather and until after the frost has killed the vines. 



Paris green. — He states that a weak solution of Paris green is effective 

 in destroying this insect when on the surface of the leaf. 



Young plants are usually killed by eating below the cotyledons, and 

 to avoid this and kill the insect the usual custom of melon 

 growers in his district is to plant in squares once a week. 1 

 Thus the planting numbered "1" is usually killed, and = 

 sometimes also the second and third plantings. As long 4 

 as the insects show on No. 1 they are poisoned, and so on 

 until a stand of plants is obtained. All four plantings are seldom 

 killed. 



13892— No. 19 4 



