80 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GARDEN AND ORCHARD CROPS. 



REMEDIES. 



As white grubs pass the greater part of their lives underground, 

 often at a considerable depth, it is obviously a matter of difficulty to 

 reach them with insecticides. Gas lime has been suggested for this 

 purpose, and good results have been obtained against certain forms by 

 the use of bisulphide of carbon, kerosene emulsion, and poisoned baits. 



The bisulphide and emulsion remedies are, however, too expensive 

 for employment on a large scale. Of poisoned baits the bran-arsenic 

 mash has been used with success against the white grubs of Allorhina 

 nitida by Col. W. Rives, as reported by Dr. L. O. Howard in Bulletin 

 No. 10 (n. s., Div. Ent., pp. 27-28). 



Of other remedies are fall plowing, rotation of crops, and the free use 

 of mineral fertilizers, such as nitrate of soda or kainit. 



Most domestic as well as many wild animals feed freely upon white 

 grubs, and swine, chickens and turkeys are especially valuable as 

 destroyers of these pests. 



In connection with remedies to be employed for the destruction of the 

 grubs, it is also advisable to kill the adult beetles. This may be done 

 by attracting them to strong lights, where they may be gathered and 

 destroyed by crushing or by similar means. 



THE SPINACH FLEA-BEETLE. 



(Disonycha xanthome} ana Dalra.) 

 A NEW FOOD PLANT. 



The unusual abundance in the spring of 1898 of the above-mentioned 

 flea-beetle on the grounds of the Department of Agriculture and else- 

 where in the vicinity of the District of Columbia led to its special 

 study, with the resulting discovery of a new food plant and the comple- 

 tion of its life history, already so ably begun by Miss M. E. Murtfeldt 

 while special agent of the Division of Entomology in 1889 (Bui. 22, 

 Div. Ent., pp. 76-78). 



Observations began April 16, when a number of the beetles were 

 taken in the vicinity of the leaves of the chickweed, Stellaria media, on 

 the lawn of the Department grounds. Subsequently upward of a score 

 of beetles were captured under a board placed for the purpose over a 

 patch of chickweed, and still later larva? were taken on the same plant 

 and reared to maturity. Oviposition was first observed on the 17th of 

 April, but it probably began somewhat earlier, as this species is one of 

 our first spring visitors, appearing even as far north as central Xew 

 York as early as the last of March in the first warm days of the season. 



The following description of the egg and immature larva will com- 

 plete our knowledge of the life stages of this species, the mature larva 

 and pupa having previously been described in the article referred to. 



