BEET WORMS AND THEIR REMEDIES. 
i r 
else, and if the worms are to be kept down without our efforts, it 
will probably be chiefly through the attacks upon them by this 
parasite. Judging from the number of parasites raised in our 
breeding cages last fall, it would seem that not more than io per 
cent of the worms were destroyed bv them last summer. The 
reason for the small numbers of this friendly parasite we can 
blame partly, if not entirely, to the presence of another yellow, 
clear-winged parasitic fly (Afesochrus agilis % Cress.) shown at Fig. 
9, of Plate I, which preys upon the smoky winged parasite of the 
worms, and so is an enemy of the beet grower. In capturing these 
parasites over the beets last fall we took almost as many of the 
clear winged parasite as of the other. This, together with the 
fact that the worms have passed the winter in good condition 
makes it seem probable that the worms may appear in large 
numbers again the coming season but of this we cannot be cer¬ 
tain. I would, at least, advise all beet growers in Colorado to be 
prepared to treat their beets on short notice with some arsenical 
poison in ease the worms should appear. 
SUMMARY. 
The worms have passed the winter in good condition and the 
moths will doubtless appear in large numbers about the middle of 
May. 
The May brood of moths will probably lay their eggs upon 
weeds and other plants and not trouble beets. 
If the worms from the May brood of moths succeed in devel¬ 
oping well, another large brood of moths may be expected about 
June 20, from which may be expected the first brood of worms 
upon the beets, about the first week in July. 
Should the July brood of worms meet with no disaster, look 
for a second brood of worms upon the beets about the middle of 
August. This brood will probably be more extended than the 
the others and may appear to consist of two or three broods close 
together. 
The exact time of the appearance of the broods will vary in 
different portions of the state and with the earliness or lateness of 
the spring. 
Be prepared with poison and spray pump so as to strike the 
blow in time to prevent serious injury to your beets if the worms 
should appear. 
Where worms have appeared during late summer or fall, al¬ 
ways plow the ground deeply before winter if possible and harrow 
the surface. Failing to do this, plow as soon as possible in the 
spring and work the surface as finely as possible with disk and 
harrow. 
§ Determined for me by Dr. L. O. Howard. 
