CUCUMBER BEETLE. (Diabrotica vittata.) This insect is very destructive to young cucum ber, melon, and squash vines, and even to the blossoms of the pear, cherry, and apple trees. The Cucumber Beetle, in May and June, eats the bark of cucumber and other plants, and the larvae perforate and hollow out the lower part of the stem which is beneath the surface of the ground, and the upper part of the riot. Occa sionally when the supply below fails, they are found in the vine just above the ground. The larva arrives at maturity in about a month or more after the egg is laid, and is found boring into the squash and cucumber vines as late as October. The pupa is formed in a smooth earthen cavity in the ground. There are two or three generations each year, according to latitude and length of winter. The perfect insect does great damage by eating holes in the seed, leaves, and young foliage. This is one of the most destructive of the insect tribe to gardeners, among vmes, coming as they often do suddenly and in countledss numbers. Both
the larva and the perfect beetle are destructive. The beetle however is not especially destructive after vines, cucumbers, melons, etc., acquire their rough leaves. The cut (Fig. 1) shows the beetle, and Fig. 2 and 3, the larvae; the short lines showing the natural size.
Their depredations may be avoided by covering the plants with glazed boxes or with boxes covered with gauze. Gardeners, however, depend upon killing them by hand when wet with dew. When the weather is hot and dry, they may be rendered in capable of flying by being slightly. drenched with cold water from a water ing pot. The plants are also protected by being dusted with London pur ple, in the propor tion of one pound to ten of flour.