HANDBOOK OX INSECT ENEMIES OF FLOWERS AND SHRUBS 



are provided with legs especially adapted 

 for this purpose. Most of them arc of 

 a dark metallic color, but some are steel 

 blue, and all are very small, usually not 

 more than }i inch long. Several species 

 are known to attack flowering plants. 

 The potato flea beetle (Epitrix cucumeris 

 Harr.) (p. 67) feeds on the leaves and 

 flowers of petunia (fig. Ill, p. 67). The 

 striped flea beetle (Phyllotreta vittata 

 (F.)) (fig. 15, A) and the western black 

 flea beetle (P. pvsilla Horn), although 

 better known as pests of the truck 

 garden, attack stock, wallflower, and 

 alpine rock cress. The primrose flea 

 beetle (Attica marevagans (Horn)) is 

 metallic blue and is often abundant in 

 both the larval and adult stages on 

 evening primrose. The larvae, or grubs, 

 of some species feed on the roots of the 

 plant; whereas the larvae of other kinds 

 feed along with the adults on the 

 foliage and other parts of the plants 

 above ground. Usually two or more 

 generations of beetles are produced 

 annually, and the adults pass the winter 

 hidden in weeds, grass, and debris. 



Treatment. — Dust thoroughly with 

 a derris and tobacco-dust mixture con- 

 taining 1 percent of rotenone (p. 97). 

 Thorough applications of bordeaux 

 mixture or a combination of lead 

 arsenate and bordeaux mixture (p. 97), 

 either as a spray or as a dust, are 

 effective as repellents. Dusting with 

 barium fluosilicate or cryolite (p. 97) is 

 also useful. Begin treatment when the 

 first evidence of injury appears in the 

 spring and repeat the applications if 

 necessary. 



Prevention. — Protect seedlings and 

 choice plants with cheesecloth or fine 

 wire screen. 



GRASSHOPPERS AND CRICKETS 



Grasshoppers (fig. 16) and crickets 

 frequently become a problem in iris 

 beds or the flower garden generally, 

 eating foliage, flowers, and tender 

 growth. Attacks may occur at almost 

 any time during the growing season. 

 Grasshoppers often migrate into flower 

 beds from adjoining vacant lots or 

 grassy fields, where the eggs were laid 

 in the ground the previous fall. 



Treatment. — Apply the poisoned- 

 bran bait recommended for cutworms 

 (p. 2), scattering it thinly over the 

 surface of infested areas in the form of 

 flakes. For grasshoppers this bait 

 should be applied on a sunny morning 

 when the temperature is between 70° 

 and 80° F., since this is when the grass- 

 hoppers are on the ground and starting 



Figure 16. — Grasshopper feeding on 

 leaves of a plant. About natural 



to feed. After the bait has dried out it 

 is no longer attractive. Baiting is most 

 effective in the spring soon after the 

 young grasshoppers appear, and two 

 or more applications at this time may be 

 necessary. Where fields surrounding 

 gardens are infested, it may be neces- 

 sary to bait them to protect the gardens. 

 For best results against crickets the 

 bait should be spread late in the day, 

 since crickets remain hidden during 

 sunshiny days and do most of their 

 feeding late in the afternoon and at 

 night. 



Prevention. — Deep spading of the 

 soil and turning it under or plowing and 

 disking adjacent grass and weed land 

 in the fall will bury or expose many of 

 the eggs and prevent them from hatch- 

 ing the following spring. 



APHIDS, OR PLANT LICE 



Aphids, or plant lice, infest all sorts 

 of plants, including annuals, perennials, 

 and shrubs. They feed by sucking the 

 plant juices. Although they do not 

 usually kill plants they frequently 

 reduce plant vigor, curl or distort the 

 leaves, harden the buds, or cause mal- 

 formation of the flowers. Aphids move 

 about somewhat, but they are rather 

 sluggish and are usually found in 



