506 
ANNUAL REPORT OF NEW YORK 
STRIPED PLEA-BEETLE. WEATHER FAVORING IT. REMEDIES. 
more.” And through the summer and the fore part of autumn 
different crops continue to suffer from these pests. Mr. Curtis 
states that sometimes so late as the middle of September the tur¬ 
nip crop, in England, is liable to be destroyed by them. They 
arc everywhere abundant from May till October, amongst the 
grass in meadows and pastures and in the fields of grain, for 
plants occur everywhere which are adapted for their sustenance: 
but the most abundant supplies of the most palatable food for 
them is found in the gardens, aud hence they are there present in 
much greater numbers than in any other situation. They appear 
to have the greatest relish for the leaves of the mustard, turnips 
of all kinds, cabbages aud cauliflowers, radishes, and horse-radish; 
but they are by no means fastidious respecting their food, and 
readily sustain themselves on hedge mustard' water cresses, and 
all other plants of the cress group, pepper-grass, shepherds’ 
purse, &c. 
They delight in the bright sunshine, .and avoid shaded situa¬ 
tions. This was very evident one season when I had cabbages set 
upon the south side of my garden where the fence cast a deep 
shade upon the outer row. This row it was very observable was 
wholly free from these beetles, when they were common on the 
next row only two feet distant, aud on all the other rows in the 
patch. It consequently follows that warmth and sunshine are far 
more favorable to their multiplication than cool cloudy weather, 
and that in hot dry seasons they will be most numerous and 
destructive. Showery weather after a long drouth, and cloudy 
days with gleams of sunshine, render them abundant, as such 
seasons do the greater portion of insects. It is in clear sunlight 
and warmth that they delight. Dampness and wet does not 
appear to be at all repulsive to them, for it is common to meet 
with some of them upon water cresses growing in rivulets and 
marshy pools, if they are but exposed to the strong light of the 
sun. 
Without attempting to notice the numerous remedies for these 
flea-beetles which correspondents are every year communicating 
to our agricultural periodicals, I will only speak of those with 
■which I am familiar from personal experience, as this will com¬ 
prise everything which it is necessary to know for combatting and 
destroying them. 
As these beetles arc very shy and timorous, whenever I seo 
