HANDBOOK OX INSECT ENEMIES OF FLOWERS AXD SHRUBS 



17 



effective, and it may be used if the 

 metaldehyde bait is not readily available. 

 Prevention. — Since slugs and snails 

 conceal themselves during daytime 

 under boards, stones, and other debris, 

 all materials which may serve as hiding 

 places should be removed and the in- 

 fested area dusted liberally with air- 

 slacked lime. The masses of translu- 

 cent, yellowish eggs found in dark and 

 damp places should be collected and 

 destroyed. 



SOWBUGS, OR PILLBUGS 



Sowbugs, or pillbugs, are about 1 ? 

 inch long, dark gray, and oval. On be- 

 ing exposed to light most species are 

 very active, although some forms roll 

 themselves up into the shape of a round 

 pill (fig. 29) upon the least disturbance, 

 and from this action the name "pillbug" 

 is derived. Sowbugs are not true in- 

 sects. Their flattened bodies have 

 about seven pairs of legs. Their usual 

 abode is under some shelter, such a< 

 decayed boards or flowerpots, in decayed 

 manure, or in any other dark place 

 where decomposition is in progress 

 They may feed on the roots and tender 

 portions of plants, especially carnation 

 and sweet pea. 



soap solution or a strong pyrethrum 

 spray will kill those actually hit by the 

 spray. 



Prevention. — Destroy the hiding 

 places of sowbugs by cleaning up and 

 disposing of all refuse. 



MILLIPEDES, OR "THOUSAND- 

 LEGGED WORMS" 



Millipedes, or "thousand - legged 

 worms," are not insects, which never 

 have more than six true legs. Millipedes 

 are brown or grayish, hard-shelled, 

 wormlike creatures (fig. 30), which hide 

 beneath stones, boards, and other de- 

 bris durine; the day. When disturbed, 

 they crawl away rapidly. They live 

 principally in the soil in damp places 

 that afford abundant decaying organic 

 matter, such as manure. Millipedes 

 sometimes bore into the roots, tubers, 

 bulbs, and fleshy stems of plants. They 

 also eat planted seeds and occasionally 

 leaves or fruits that touch the ground. 





Figure 29. — The greenhouse pillbiiR: 



Left, extended; right, contracted. Figure 30.— Millipedes. Twice natural 

 About 3 times natural size. 



Treatment. — Sprinkle the surface of 

 the soil lightly with a dry mixture con- 

 sisting of 9 parts of sugar and 1 part of 

 paris green, or with the poisoned-bran 

 mash as directed for cutworms (p. 2). 

 A similar remedy, which may be applied 

 in the same manner, consists of 2 parts 

 of wheat flour, 2 parts of sugar, and 1 

 part of paris green. To prevent leaf 

 injury, avoid putting the bait on the 

 foliage. Dry tobacco dust is very 

 effective as a repellent. Spraying the 

 infested soil with a nicotine sulfate and 



Treatment. — Poisoned baits are ef- 

 fective means of control. Sliced pota- 

 toes, apples, or turnips, rolled in dry 

 paris green and placed about the in- 

 fested beds, have proved efficient. Pre- 

 cautions should be taken, however, to 

 see that the poisoned baits will not be 

 picked up by children or domestic 

 animals. Sprinkling the surface of the 

 soil lightly with a dry mixture consisting 

 of 9 parts of sutsar and 1 part of dry 

 paris green is also effective. Avoid 



