A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PRINCIPAL INSECT 
ENEMIES OF THE SUGAR BEET. 
INTRODUCTORY. 
The Reports on the Progress of the Beet-Sugar Industry, by Mr. 
Charles F. Saylor, special agent of the Department, show that the 
world's production of sugar in 1902 amounted to nearly 10,000,000 
tons, of which nearl}^ three-fifths was manufactured from sugar beets. 
The increase in the production of sugar from beets as compared with 
the production from cane has for many years been rapid and continu- 
ous. The first attempt to manufacture beet sugar in the United States 
was made in 1830. After numerous failures a successful factory was 
established in California about twenty-five years ago. In 1891 only 
three beet-sugar factories were in operation in the United States; but 
by 1902 the number had increased to 42, with man^^ more in prospect. 
The manufacture of enough sugar to supply our home demand would 
require the operation of about 400 factories, or as many as there 
are in Germany, the principal sugar-beet growing country of the 
world. This in turn would require the cultivation of a verj^ large 
acreage in sugar beets. More than $50,000,000 is reported to be 
invested in the beet-sugar industry in this country, and there is 
promise that the industry may, before a great many years, develop to 
the extent above indicated. Hence, any information which may be of 
use to sugar-beet growers is of immediate interest and practical value. 
Although the beet-sugar industry is still in its infancy in America, 
already many insects — 150 species in round numbers ^^ — have been 
found to use beets as food, and, while comparatively few occasion 
losses of consequence, with the coming of years and the increase of 
cultivation of the sugar beet, other insects will acquire the habit of 
feeding upon it, and more extensive injuries may be expected each 
successive season. 
If we leave out such forms of insects as blister beetles, army worms 
and cutworms, flea-beetles, leaf -beetles, and some few others, we may 
say that beets at the present time suffer comparatively little damage 
through insect ravages. The recent extension, however, of sugar-beet 
culture in this country has been the means of bringing to notice, 
through the publications of the Department of Agriculture and 
several of the State experiment stations,^ a large number of insects 
not previously identified with attack on that plant. 
A very considerable proportion of the insect enemies of sugar beet 
which are practically identical with those which affect table beet and 
« Forbes & Hart, Bui. 60, Univ. 111. Agl. Expt. Sta., 1900, pp. 397-532. 
&See Bruner, Bui. 23 [old ser.], Div. Ent., U. S. Dept. Agriculture, 1891, pp. 11- 
18; Osborn & Gossard, Bui. 15, Iowa Agl, Expt. Sta., 1891, pp. 265-272; also numer- 
ous shorter articles. 7 
