240 



JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



{Vol 8 



A MECHANICAL MEASURE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLEA- 

 BEETLE (EPITRIX FUSCULA) ON POTATO.^ 



By C. L. Metcalf, Ohio Siaie University, Columbus, Ohio 



The difficulty of controlling flea-beetles with the known insecticides 

 is generally appreciated. In North Carolina we tried a varietj' of 

 materials without finding anj^ really satisfactorj?- insecticide. This 

 fact and the well-known habit of these insects of jumping vigorously 

 at the slightest disturbance, suggested to the writer that their eco- 

 nomic control might be achieved by some method of trapping. 



In 19I3 a crude trap (PI. 10, fig. 1) was improvised from a store box 

 by cutting out one end, a part of the bottom and of the other end. 

 The inside was covered with a thin coat of tree tanglefoot; and the 

 box carried along the rows by the upright handles, so that the vines 

 passed through the box from one end to the other. After covering 

 one-fortieth of an acre of potatoes, moderately infested, a count 

 showed 370 flea-beetles entangled in the trap. After covering one- 

 fifth of an acre in the same way, 2,335 flea-beetles were counted in the 

 tanglefoot. This was disposing of flea-beetles at the rate of 10,000 

 to 15,000 per acre, as rapidly as two men could walk along the rows. 



A modification of the handle of the box so that one man could manip- 

 ulate it was the most needed improvement. It was noticed at once 

 that most of the beetles were caught on the lower part of the box, 

 especiall}^ on the pieces (PL 10 fig. 2, A, A) . It is, therefore, desirable 

 to have these pieces extend inward as far as possible. It was also 

 considered of some advantage to have a box mder in front than behind 

 so that it might surround the vines before the insects became much 

 disturbed. The opening at the rear (PL 10, fig. 2 B,) should be small 

 to thoroughly disturb the vines as they pass. Two and a half to 

 three feet seemed to be the best length for the box, while it should be 

 just high enough and wide enough to cover the plants. 



The leaves from the plants accumulated on the sides and back of 

 the box; so a sj'-stem of wires was devised running from the front to 

 the opening at the rear. (See Plate 10, fig. 2). This effectualh^ pre- 

 vented the leaves from touching the stick}' surface T\dthout affecting 

 the efficienc}^ of the trap. In order to facilitate the renewal of the 

 tanglefoot surface, the mres were fastened in front to three wooden 

 strips (PL 10, fig. 2, C, C, C) which in turn were attached to the box 

 vnih. thumb screws and so could easily be removed. It is believed to 

 be essential for the highest efficiency that the trap precede the operator 

 so that there is no disturbance of the' vines until they are covered by 

 the box. 



1 This work was carried on under the direction of J\Ir. Franklin Sherman, Jr., 

 State Entomologist, Raleigh, N. C, to whom I am indebted for permission to pub- 

 lish it. 



