U. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 109, Part I. T. C. & S. P. I. I., November 6, 1911. 
PAPERS ON INSECTS AFFECTING VEGETABLES. 
THE HAWAIIAN BEET WEBWORM. 
(Hymenia fascialis Cram.) 
By H. O. Marsh, 
Agent, engaged in Sugar-Beet and Truck-Crop Insect Investigations. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
During the latter half of 1910 the author was engaged in a study 
of insects affecting truck crops in the Hawaiian Islands. The enemies 
of beets and of the so-called spinach (Amaranthus sp.) were among 
the insects which were studied. The species injurious to these two 
crops had previously received very little study from an economic 
standpoint, and the necessity of such study was further enhanced by 
the fact that a land company was experimenting with sugar beets on 
the island of Lanai 1 with the intention of growing this crop on a 
large scale, if it should offer promise of becoming profitable. 
In the vicinity of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, vegetables are 
grown in commercial gardens, managed by Chinese or Japanese. In 
a general sense, these growers may be considered "good farmers" 
although they have little regard for the necessity of clean culture and 
seldom make any intelligent effort to combat insect pests or plant 
diseases. In the rare cases where an effort is made to cope with such 
troubles, the methods employed are extremely crude. Practically all 
cultivation is done by hand, except that occasionally the water 
buffalo is used for plowing the land before the crops are planted. 
From the Oriental point of view this plowing is considered sufficient 
if the surface of the ground is scratched to the depth of a few inches. 
The fertilizing material used is in liquid form. It is prepared by 
soaking stable manure or other refuse material in water and is 
applied directly about the plants. 
Table beets and " spinach " are produced exclusively for the local 
market. These vegetables are grown in beds, in a peculiar manner, 
which Mr. E. M. Ehrhorn has aptly designated "the graveyard 
style." The beds, which are very often about 10 yards long by 1 
1 The sixth largest island of the group. 
