BEAN PESTS 
and the adults emerge. There is an over- 
lapping of broods so that during the sum- 
mer months all stages may be found. 
Distribution 
The bean thrips are found in Idaho, 
California, Arizona and Kentucky. 
Food Plants 
Due to its large numbers.this insect 
has proved a serious pest to oranges, 
alfaifa, pear trees and various garden 
crops, the work being the same as that 
of other members of the family. 
Control 
Control measures for this pest are the 
Same as recommended for pear, citrus or 
grain thrips, depending upon the plants 
which are infested. See Pear. 
A flour paste consisting of from six to 
eight pounds of cheap flour to 100 gallons 
of water and applied thoroughly has 
given excellent results in controlling this 
pest upon truck crops, such as_ beans, 
peas, beets, etc., which have tender 
foliage. E. O. Essie 
Flea Beetle 
Systena blanda 
Several flea beetles attack field beans. 
Probably the most troublesome is the 
pale-striped flea beetle. It is only during 
Fig. 1. 
577 
hot, dry summers that these tiny crea- 
tures make their attacks, but at such. 
times they are likely to appear in myriads 
in fields of beans and sugar beets, as 
well as in all sorts of garden truck. 
The name fiea beetle is suggested by 
their habit. of jumping when disturbed, 
very much like a flea. 
The beetles themselves are only about 
one-eighth of an inch in length and 
creamy in color, with thin, longitudinal 
' stripes of light brown on the wing covers. 
The larvae are slender, thread-like crea- 
tures, white in color with yellowish 
heads. They feed underground on the 
roots of weeds for the most part. 
The effect of many tiny beetles eating 
holes in the foliage is to shrivel the 
leaves and, if the plants are very small, 
to kill them outright. 
Remedies 
The beetles winter as adults, which at 
once suggests the burning of rubbish 
about the farm and in the fence corners. 
Bordeaux is a very valuable repellent. 
Bordeaux, however, is apt to burn the 
leaves of beans and arsenate of lead is 
probably the safest and best remedy. 
R. H. Perrrirt, 
East Lansing, Mich. 
Pale Striped Flea Beetle. Enlarged.- 
(Author’s illustration.) 
