34 SOME INSECTS INJURIOUS TO TRUCK CROPS. 
for this condition. These examinations were, however, always made 
late in the season after the curly-leaf character had become general 
and after the greater number of insects had disappeared. Examina- 
tion of the beets always revealed a few specimens of Eutettix tenella 
along with other leafhoppers and miscellaneous insects, but never in 
sufficient number to cause suspicion. 
Late in June, 1905, reports began to come in to the Utah experiment 
station of the appearance of an insect in the beet fields of the southern 
and central portions of the State, and on July 8 the writer, in com- 
pany with Mr. George Austin, visited the fields around Lehi and there 
found the beet leafhoppers, associated with smaller numbers of false 
chinch bugs (Nysius) and leafhoppers of the genus Agallia, causing 
serious damage to the young plants, especially in the late-planted 
fields. 
From the size of the beets and the number of the beet leafhoppers 
present when first examined in 1905, the prediction was made that the 
insects would not be able seriously to retard the further growth of the 
beets. This prediction was based on the ordinary amount of damage 
done by insects of sucking habits. That the number of insects found 
would be able to injure or even seriously retard a very young beet 
was recognized, but that the same number could have any appreciable 
effect on large beets was contrary to all expectations based on a knowl- 
edge of similar attacks by Nysius, Agallia, and other sucking insects. 
The trouble soon afterwards appeared in the Cache Valley, Utah, 
and was under observation there throughout the remainder of the sea- 
son, while several trips were made to various parts of the State. 
Wherever it appeared it gradually grew worse, and although the year 
1905 started with eveiything favorable in the early season, the Utah 
beet crop fell below the average about 75,000 tons. This, however, did 
not anywhere represent the entire loss, as both sugar content and 
purity of the beets harvested fell far below the average, entailing fur- 
ther loss to the sugar companies and bringing the total to more than 
half a million dollars. 
In Sanpete and Sevier counties, in the southern part of Utah, a 
large part of the acreage was abandoned early in the season, while the 
rest barely paid the expense of harvesting. In Utah County the crop 
varied from a total loss on a few late fields to a full crop, with an 
average of more than a half crop harvested. In the Cache Valley, in 
the northern part of the State, the loss was about one-third in tonnage, 
and in Weber and Boxelder counties less than that. 
In 1906 a very small number of leafhoppers appeared, and, as the 
season was cool, even where they were most abundant little damage 
was done. A careful study was made of the life history and distribu- 
tion of the species, and a number of tests were made of its injury to 
the beets. 
