330 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO THE STRAWBERRY, 



Fig. 343. 



No. 196. — The Spotted Paria. 



Paria sex-notata (Say). 



This is a small beetle, about three-tenths of an inch long, 

 pale in color, — sometimes dark, — having the wing-covers 

 spotted with black, and ornamented with regular rows of dots, 

 which disappear towards the tip (see Fig. 343); beneath it is 

 blackish. It is a stout insect, with a polished 

 surface, and is very active in its movements, hop- 

 ping briskly about when approached or disturbed. 

 The beetle appears at the time when the fruit 

 is partly grown, which, in the northern parts 

 of the continent, is towards the end of May. 

 When these insects are abundant, they devour the leaves of 

 the plants with such avidity that they are soon completely 

 riddled with holes, and the crop of fruit materially injured. 



Remedies. — On account of the advanced growth of the 

 fruit when the beetle appears, it would be unsafe to use strong 

 poisons, such as Paris-green. It would be much safer to use 

 hellebore, and quite effectual ; probably air-slaked lime, soot, 

 or ashes dusted on the foliage would also remedy the evil. 



No. 197.— The Striped Flea-beetle. 



Phyllotreta vittata (Fabr.). 



This pretty little beetle, although most commonly found on 



young turnips and cabbages, is some- 

 times found also eating the leaves of 

 strawberry-plants. The beetle, which 

 is shown magnified in Fig. 344, is 

 less than one-tenth of an inch long, 

 black, with a broad, wavy, yellowish 

 stripe on each wing-cover. It is very 

 active, leaping away to a considerable distance when an at- 

 tempt is made to catch it. 



The larva, which is also shown in the figure, is found on the 



Pig. 344. 



I 



