UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Say In Cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry 
: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 
_ DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1357 
Washington, D. C. January, 1926 
: 
') THE STRAWBERRY ROOTWORM, A NEW PEST ON GREENHOUSE ROSES ° 
| By C. A. WEIGEL, Associate Entomologist, Fruit Insect Investigations, Bureau 
of Entomology 
IF CONTENTS 
ea ; 
Page Page 
Wa systematic history.._.____________ 2 Seasonal histony. © aes. Ee 25 
\' Economic history and food plants__ oy Natural wenemiess 2 a eee 27 
\ Recent injury in greenhouses_-____ 4 | Experiments in contro]____________ PY 
MEM SUPIDICION: 42 a 6 | Preventive measures _____-________ 44 
| Nature of injury and economic im- SS era ra eae ya eS Mar ee 45 
PLT COL aaNet EE Se UR 6 | Recommendations for control ______ 46 
Shee teratcure sited joe sey Miia Arsh UIs, 47 
mae history and habits____._______ 
During the last 40 years the native insect known as the straw- 
berry rootworm, or strawberry leaf beetle, Paria canelia (Fab.), 
varieties guadrinotata (Say) and gilvipes (Crotch), was considered 
a serious enemy of strawberry, raspberry, and a few other plants 
only. Suddenly this little beetle appeared in greenhouses, attack- 
ing roses in Virginia, Indiana, New Jersey, Perinsylvania, and Mary- 
land. Prior to 1916 a suggestion that this insect would abandon its 
usual hests (29, p. 67)? for the succulent rose might have been sub- 
ject to considerable doubt; but when simultaneous reports were re- 
' ceived by the Bureau of Entomology concerning two widely sepa- 
| rated infestations of an insect injuring roses in greenhouses at Alex- 
| andria, Va., and Richmond, Ind., such doubts would have been dis- 
pelled, because an examination of the specimens which accompanied 
+The account of the strawberry rootwormeand its control contained in this bulletin is 
the result of an investigation started in July, 1919, when the first reports were received 
| by the Bureau of Entomology concerning injury by this insect to greenhouse roses. E. L. 
) Chambers assisted in the work until August, 1920, and C. F. Doucette from January, 
|) 1921, until it was completed. Through the courtesy of J. G. Sanders, then director of 
the bureau of plant industry, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, a large portion of 
the work was done in cooperation with that bureau with headquarters at Doylestown, Pa. 
Credit is due J. K. Primm and A. W. Buckman. of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Plant 
Industry, and also Miss B. M. Broadbent and A. T. Grimes, of the Bureau of Entomology, 
for the assistance which they rendered at intervals in the work. Figures 3, 4, 7; 8, and 9 
were prepared by Miss Aimé Motter. Special thanks are accorded to John A. Andre, of 
Doylestown, for providing laboratory space, plants, and facilities for carrying on the 
Work, as well as to other florists who offered assistance. The writer is also indebted to 
Prof. Herbert Osborn, of Ohio State University, for. his interest, advice, and encourage- 
ment throughout the progress of the work. Acknowledgment is given to Dr. A. L. Quaint- 
ance and H. R. Sasscer, of the Bureau of Entomology, for their many valuable suggestions. 
Figures in italics in parentheses refer to “ Literature cited,” p. 47. 
52018—26 1 
