PREFACE 
The present bulletin has been published in parts, seven in number/ 
from time to time as completed, and relates to insects and groups of 
insects of widely different character. It is in continuation of inves- 
tigations on insects injurious to truck and vegetable crops begun in 
1896, the results of which have been published in Bulletins 19, 23, 29, 
33, and 43 and various circulars of this bureau, and in Yearbooks of 
the Department of Agriculture. 
The initial paper, entitled ' ' The Colorado Potato Beetle in Virginia 
in 1908/' is a logical sequel to Circular No. 87, which treats of the 
same insect in its entire distribution. It furnishes details of experi- 
ments made in tidewater Virginia, and gives special instructions for 
the use of the traction-power sprayer in that region. It also con- 
tains interesting notes on the life history and habits of the species 
for the same region. 
Part II gives a consideration of three species injurious to umbellifer- 
ous truck crops. The first paper of this part, on the parsnip leaf- 
miner (Acidia fratria Loew), gives a concise account of this insect 
with some original notes on its biology and suggestions for its control. 
The second paper, on the parsley stalk weevil (Listronotus latiusculus 
Boh.), gives the results of original observations conducted on this 
insect in the vicinity of the District of Columbia; indeed, it is the 
first account of this species which has been published. For the 
control of this insect, which is only a pest under certain conditions, the 
abandonment of the culture of parsley is recommended for a short 
period until the insect disappears. The third article, on the celery 
caterpillar {Papilio polyxenes Fab.) makes no claim to originality, but 
introduces the first account with good illustrations of this well-known 
insect which has been published by the Department of Agriculture. 
Part III is devoted to two insects injurious to beans and peas. 
The first of these insects is the lima-bean pod-borer (Etiella zinck- 
enella Treit.). The account here given is the first record of the 
occurrence of this imported insect as a pest in America, although we 
have reports of injury as far back as 1885. The second article, on 
the yellow-necked flea-beetle (Disonyclia mellicollis Say), embodies all 
the information, recently furnished by agents and correspondents of 
the bureau, that has been gained in regard to a species which is 
widely distributed from New York to Texas, especially along the 
Atlantic coast. 
