860 
Fig. 2. 
Pickle Worm Injury to Cantaloup. 
Cocoons 
The cocoon is a thin, scanty covering 
of white silken threads, spun by the worm 
in a fold of some leaf before transform- 
ing to the pupal stage. They are general- 
ly found in dead or dying leaves near the 
ground, or lying on the soil under the in- 
fested plants. 
For this reason the practice of raking 
up and burning or composting remnants 
of infested crops, followed by deep plow- 
ing, is of value. 
Remedial Measures 
Early plantings of cantaloupes and cu- 
cumbers may escape injury from this pest 
in the South. 
Trap Plants 
Pickle worms evince a decided prefer- 
ence for the buds, blooms and fruit of 
summer squash. 
To secure the best results, seed should 
be planted two or three times at intervals 
of about three weeks, making the first 
planting in time to insure having the 
squash plants blooming freely by the 
middle or latter part of June. They 
must then be examined frequently, and, 
when worms are discovered, infested 
blooms and fruit should be gathered and 
destroyed at least once a week. 
Destroy infested plants and fruit and 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
as soon as the crop is gathered rake up 
and destroy all vines, weeds and trash. 
R. I. SM1TH 
N. C. Exp. Sta. 
PoTATO FLEA BEETLE. 
to Pests. 
Striped Cucumber Beetle 
Diabrotica vittata Fab. 
General Appearance 
The adult beetles are small, measuring 
about two-fifths of an inch in length and 
half as much in width. The color is yel- 
low above with black head and three 
black longitudinal stripes on the wing 
covers. The under surface as well as 
parts of the legs and antennae are black. 
The larvae are very small white grubs 
with head, anai and _ thoracic plates 
brown. They live in the earth. The eggs 
are oval in shape and bright lemon to 
orange in color and are laid in the soil. 
See under Pota- 
NO. Es Sta. 
Fig. 1. Striped Cucumber Beetle. 
Life History 
The adult beetles hibernate over winter 
under rubbish or in other’ protected 
places,. and emerge during the early 
spring months of April and May. As soon 
as the host plants appear the eggs are 
deposited in the soil around the bases 
and hatch in about nine days. The lar- 
vae upon hatching feed at the base of the 
plants upon the roots and stems. The 
greatest damage is done by the adults 
boring down into the soil and _ feed- 
ing upon the tender appearing foliage. 
Throughout the entire summer they con- 
tinue as foliage destroyers and do much 
damage. They also act as carriers of the 
bacterial wilt disease of cucumbers. 
Food Plants 
Squashes, cucumbers, cantaloupes, 
pumpkins and watermelons are its favor- 
ite food plants and suffer most from its 
