Bulletin 151, Truck and Garden Insects


 BEANS
 THE THREE-CORNERED HOPPER (Stictocephala festina)
 (See also page 129)
 In addition to the smaller leaf-hopper, Empoasca mali, beans
are commonly infested with a much larger one. This is yellow-
ish-green in color, about a quarter of an inch long and half as
wide. As viewed from above, its outline is that of a long tri-
angle. This and its habit of feeding on alfalfa have resulted in
its being known in the West as the "three-cornered alfalfa hop-
per". It is also a pest of tomatoes, watermelons, and cowpeas
in Florida. We have also found it common on hickory, oak,
goldenrod, and summer haw (Viburnum). Control measures
would be the same as for the smaller species.

 CONTROL OF BEAN LEAF-HOPPER (See also page 130)
 In Dade county a hopper-dozer constructed on the plan of a
vacuum cleaner has been used in collecting these insects. This
is perhaps the most successful machine that has been tried. But
because of the rapidity with which the fields are reinfested from
the surrounding vegetation and the rapid breeding of the con-
siderable percentage of bugs which escape, it is necessary to
repeat the collecting every few days.

 CABBAGE
 LIFE HISTORY OF THE CABBAGE PLUTELLA (See also page 140)

 This occupies from two to three weeks in summer. It
spends about three days in the egg stage, from one to two weeks
in the larval, and from four to eight days in the pupal stage.
Therefore, if one wishes to effect a thoro clean-up of a heavy
infestation of this insect, he should give the plants a second
spraying about ten days after the first (two weeks in winter).

 ANOTHER GOOD SPREADER FOR CABBAGE (See also page 143)
 A spreader recommended by the Illinois Agricultural Ex-
periment Station is made by dissolving five pounds rosin and one
pint fish-oil soap in a gallon of water in an iron kettle. Then
add four gallons of water and one pound of concentrated lye or
potash and boil for a few minutes. When ready to spray, add
to 32 gallons of water two gallons of the above solution, six
gallons of milk obtained by slaking quick lime in water (strain it
so as not to clog the sprayer), and a half pound of Paris green
or two pounds of powdered lead arsenate.