13 



Olienopodiaceous plants, as the various species of "tumble weeds," 

 the "pig-weed," Atriplices, etc., the purslane and other juicy weeds, 

 as also many of those that attack the various Crucifene and SoIanaceaB, 

 will also feed upon the beet. Not a single species of insect has thus 

 far been reported by any of the agents of the station, or by correspond- 

 ents, that is exclusively a beet feeder. Every one of them has been as- 

 certained to attack some one or more of the other plants that are also 

 common to the region. Only a very few species have appeared in num- 

 bers sufficiently great to be what could be termed "destructive" to the 

 beet within the region covered by these studies or investigations ; and 

 these few are of such a nature that they can be readily combated. 



In their modes of attack upon the beet these various insects, so far 

 as they have been studied, are either leaf-feeders or root-borers, i. e., 

 they either attack the foliage which they devour or from which they 

 suck the juices by inserting their beaks, or they bore into or gnaw the 

 roots. Later on in our investigations we may find that there are others 

 that will attack the seeds and seed stems. In either of the former cases 

 the result is an injury to the beet, whether it is being cultivated for the 

 table, for feeding to stock, or for the manufacture of sugar. Should 

 future study reveal others that attack the seed of the beet these latter 

 would of course be of direct injury to the seed industry since much 

 seed will necessarily have to be raised to provide for the large crops 

 that are required each year for sugar. 



Having now become fully convinced that the cultivation of the Sugar 

 Beet is not without its drawbacks here in the West, and that there are 

 insects which we must contend against &ud overcome in raising this 

 crop, as well as in the raising of corn, wheat, and potatoes, we see 

 the necessity of beginning our fight at once if we would prevent much 

 future loss. By prompt action in the beginning, when the enemies are 

 few in numbers and less generally distributed, we will have a much 

 easier time of it j besides, our losses from this cause will be infinitely 

 smaller than if we neglect them and permit them to go on increasing 

 and spreading unmolestedly. 



The following list embraces all such species of insects as were either 

 found to injure the beet here in Nebraska or else have been recorded 

 by others as attacking this plant within the region referred to : 



List of Beet Insects. 



Species that attack the Leaves. 



Lepidoptera. 



1. Sjnlosoma virginica, Fab. — The larva of this very common insect, is one of 



the first noticed to injure the beet. It also infests a large number of other 

 plants. 



2. Spilosoma Isabella, Abb.— The larva, like that of the preceding, attacks the beet 



and many of our common weeds. 



3. Mamestra jncta, Harr.— Larva occasionally attacks the leaves of beet and other 



garden plants. 



