30 



oirds devour many of them, hence we warmly welcome this new found friend, who has doubt- 

 less been silently working in our interest for many years past. In 1868 the larva of sylvatica 

 was almost as abundant as it was last summer, while in 1869 very few were to be found. By 

 the light of these observations it is easy to see that these destructive insects may be decimated 

 by one or two methods, or by both ; in the first place, by the enormous increase of these mite 

 enemies, or by the occurrence of a severe frost following a few warm days in spring, during 

 which by the heat of the sun the larvae have been incited to activity, and having left their 

 snug winter quarters, have, while in a feeble and comparatively unprotected state, been de- 

 troyed by cold. 



INSECTS AFFECTING T^E VINES OF THE CUCUMBER, SQUASH 



AND MELON. 



about oue-third of an inch 

 FiR. 8. 



THE STRIPED CUCULIBER BEETLE (DiabroHca vittata.) 



Probably during no season for many years past have the growers of the squash, 

 melon and cucumber in the western part of the Province been so pestered with destructive 

 insects as during the past year. The little striped cucumber beetle, fig. 7, seems to have 

 Fig. 7. been everywhere common and in many localities most destructive. This beetle 

 feeds on the tender leaves of the young plants and damages the buds and 

 young shoots of later growth, while its larva attacks the stems of the vines 

 boring into them, and thus destroying the plants. It makes its appearance 

 very early in the season as soon as the young plants appear, and sometimes it 

 even penetrates the earth in search of the growing seeds. It is about a 

 quarter of an inch long, of a bright yellow colour, with a black head and stripes of black 

 on the wing covers, the underside of the abdomen and feet also are black. A few days 

 later the female deposits her eggs near the roots of the vines which, in due course, hatch 

 into tiny whitish worms, which burrow in the stems until full grown, when they are 



long and as thick as a good sized pin. Fig. 8 shows this larva 

 magnified — 1 showing the back, 2 a side view, the shorter 

 lines to the left indicate the natural size. They attain "^matu- 

 rity in about a month when they leave the plant and descend 

 into the earth and form little cavities where they transform 

 to chrysalids. They are less than a fifth of an inch in 

 length, of a whitish colour ; the extremity of the abdomen 

 ending in two rather long spines. In fig. 9 is shown a 

 T \%1 T IVJ front and back view of the pupa en- 



I VTm ijj ^ ^' larged. In the course of a fortnight the 



I K3/ dfib perfect beetle matures when it escapes 



«i» * f 1 ll w ^^^P , ^l^^^^ir _ from a state of inactivity to continue 



its work of destruction. There are 

 usually not less than three broods in 

 each year, the fall brood wintering in 

 the chrysalis state. 

 As a remedy, Paris-green has been recommended, mixed 

 with flour, and sprinkled on the vines. A strong decoction of 

 Smartweet is also spoken highly of by some, but the surest method of protection is to 

 cover the vines while young with small wooden frames, covered with gauze on the top. 

 This can be very cheaply done, and will entirely remedy the evil. 



The Squash Bug ( Coreis tristis ). 



This insect, fig. 10, has also been very abundant and proved a serious loss to many 

 market-gardeners by its enormous increase, and the destructive eifects of the presence of so 

 many of its young on the vines of the squash and melon. 



