. Economic entomology for the farmer and fruit-grower. Beneficial insects. l62 AN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. Fig. that are predaceous and others that are plant-feeders, and, as in the preceding case, it is difificult to say alv/ays whether the species are beneficial or injurious. They will all stand watching, at any rate, but, fortunately, not many of them occur in great numbers. Perhaps the most marked exception is the " harlequin cabbage-bug,'' Murgantia histrionica. This is one of the most serious pests to cabbage in the Southern States, being found in small numbers on Long Island, in
. Economic entomology for the farmer and fruit-grower. Beneficial insects. l62 AN ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY. Fig. that are predaceous and others that are plant-feeders, and, as in the preceding case, it is difificult to say alv/ays whether the species are beneficial or injurious. They will all stand watching, at any rate, but, fortunately, not many of them occur in great numbers. Perhaps the most marked exception is the " harlequin cabbage-bug,'' Murgantia histrionica. This is one of the most serious pests to cabbage in the Southern States, being found in small numbers on Long Island, in the southern part of New Jersey, and then increasing rapidly in num- ber and destructiveness throughout the South and Southwest. These also win- ter in the adult stage, and egg-laying begins quite early in the spring. They are said to pass through all their stages in two weeks, and it can be readily seen that there is room for a number of generations in the course of the season. Practical experiments seem to prove that fighting the adults early in spring is most effective. Mus- tard seems to be their favorite food-plant, and it is recommended to plant rows of mustard between the cabbage rows for the pur- pose of attracting the old bugs. They can be sprayed there with pure kerosene, which kills them readily, and if it also kills the mustard, no great harm is done ; or, they can be collected in pans in the morning, before they have become active, and in this way they will be sufficiently reduced in number to prevent them from becoming troublesome later on. Of course this is another of the remedies that depends for its greatest success upon com- bined action. It has also been recommended that the hibernating bugs be trapped in early spring under turnip or cabbage leaves, preserved for that purpose during the winter. The allied family Cydnidcs is interesting, having the legs formed for digging, though otherwise resembling the preceding. Their food habits are not well known ; but no
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