INSECTS OF COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE IN FLORIDA— 
THEIR IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL (Continued ) 

Adult 
LADY BEETLE. The adults of some species are red with 
black spots, some black with red spots, others reddish yellow, 
and a few are entirely black. All of them have short, club-like 
antennae (feelers). The larvae are dark-colored, often showing 
a few spots of yellow or blue on the side of the body. Their 
shape reminds one of a tiny alligator. With the exception of 
the Mexican Bean Beetle, the entire family is entirely bene- 
ficial to man, as its members (both adults and larvae) feed on 
small insects, particularly aphids. No attempt should be made 
to destroy either the beetles or the larvae. 


Larva 
CELERY LEAF-TIER. The moths are of a brownish color. 
The front wings are crossed with dark lines forming a charac- 
teristic pattern, as indicated in the drawing. The caterpillars 
are pale-green, slender and very active. They have a tendency 
to cover the leaves with a light web, often tieing several leaves 
together. Their feeding is confined to celery. 
DUST RECOMMENDATIONS 
Pyrocide Dust No. 744. 
SPRAY RECOMMENDATIONS 
Red Arrow—1:400. 


st 
Rabe G ITS 2 

Larva 
WIRE WORM. The hard-shelled beetles are usually brown- 
ish or black in color. The beetles are most generally known by 
the name of snapping beetles, click-beetles, or skipjacks, be- 
cause of their habit of flipping themselves up in the air several 
inches when they happen to fall on their backs. When held 
close to one’s ear, a clicking noise is audible. The larvae are 
34 
mostly hard, dark-brown, smooth, wire-like worms. While the 
beetles are relatively unimportant, the larvae of many species 
attack the roots and stems of grains, corn, cotton, potatoes, 
sugar beets, celery, and many other crops. As wire worms 
(those injurious to crops) spend their larval stage in the 
ground, control in the past has proved difficult. 
D-D, a new soil fumigant, can now be used in the control of wire 
worms. D-D also controls root-knot. (See page 59 for further 
details) . 


Larva 
SQUASH VINE BORER. The moth is wasp-like of appear- 
ance. It is colored beautifully by having the front wings covered 
with metallic-shining green and olive-brown scales. The hind 
wings are transparent. The abdomen is ringed with red, black 
and copper. The body of the larva is white, the head being 
brown. Immediately upon hatching, the young larvae bore into 
the vines of squash and other cucurbits, although certain varie- 
ties of squash are very much preferred by them. 
Chemical dusts and sprays are not sufficiently satisfactory to 
warrant the time and cost of application. When a vine is found 
to be infested, a sharp knife should be used to split the vine 
lengthwise to remove and destroy the larva. The injured areas 
of the vines should be covered with moist earth immediately. 

Adult 
FLEA BEETLE. The adults are mostly black or steel-blue. 
When disturbed, they jump away quickly. The larvae are small 
cylindrical worms of a whitish color. Flea beetles attack various 
vegetable crops, such as potatoes, eggplant; spinach, cabbage, 
strawberries, etc. In some species, the larvae confine them- 
selves to root-feeding, while in others they may attack leaves 
and stems of plants as well by tunneling into them. The injury 
of the adults consists of tiny, shot-like holes or indentations, 
creating an opportunity for the entrance of destructive plant 
diseases. It is therefore extremely important to control this 
insect. 
DUST RECOMMENDATIONS 
Kilcide 3 Dust (Contains 3% DDT).* 
Kryocide Dust 30-70.* 
Pyrocide Dust No. 714. 
SPRAY RECOMMENDATIONS 
50% wettable DDT powder—2 pounds per 100 gallons.* 
Kryocide—4 pounds per 100 gallons.* 

For Best Results Plant Kilgore’s ‘“Bred-Rite” Seeds 
