Show alesi BOOM beetle I 1 Is cau cause sa of injury small jumping insect feeds on cabbage radishes and other crops several species of small jumping insects called flea beetles are common on garden plants plan tsat at this time of the year the western cabbage flea beetle to la about one sixteenth inch long shin ing bluish color and feeds on cabbage radishes turnips and closely related plants the adult beetles hibernate over winter and appear early in the spring as aa soon as the weather vien ther warms wanna up they feed on the leaves of the plants eating them full of holes the eggs are deposited in the soil around the base of the plants and the larvae teed feed on the roots potato flea beetle the potato flea beetle Is quite film aim liar ilar to the above species except that it Is dull black in color and covered with short hairs it usually appears somewhat later this insect feeds on many plants including potatoes tomatoes turnips beans sunflowers sun flowers etc besides eating the leaves of the plants the larvae feed on the roots and tubers of the potatoes causing injury known as worm tracks or slivers silvers A larger species the banded fie flea a beetle sometimes causes injury to a variety of crops it Is about one eighth inch long has a yellow thorax and two yellow stripes down the back control measures Mca aures control measures tor for these insects have bave not been very satisfactory arsenate of lead 1 pound to ej f gallons of water sprayed on the foliage of the infested plants will kill them if it Is eaten bordeaux mixture acts as a repellant lime or wood ashes mixed with paris green or lead arsenate gives some protection probably the best spray la Is the bordeaux 4 4 50 with two pounds of arsenate ara enate of lead the usual result of spraying Is that the beetles leave leae the sprayed plants and feed on most any foliage near by for a few days and then return to the unsprayed new growth 3 L hoerner colorado agricultural coll |