Abstract
THIS insect, known scientifically as Euteitix tenella forms the subject of Farmer's Bulletin No. 1886 (1941) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, by W. C. Cook. We note in this publication a markedly enlarged dimension of its pages as compared with the usual run of its predecessors. Its value is thus enhanced by allowing of larger scale and more detailed illustrations and of a more convenient spacing of the letterpress. The beet leafhopper is native to the western United States and to northern Mexico, and is notorious as the carrier and transmitter of the virus of the destructive curly top disease of sugar beet and also of western yellow blight of tomatoes. During many years past the curly top disease has been a major factor limiting the production of sugar beet in many western areas. The whole problem of its control is a difficult one since direct spraying is rarely of value. In many areas the control of grazing is the most feasible method of attacking many of the plant hosts of this insect. In some cases reduction or elimination of the Russian-thistle, the most important summer host, by mechanical means is possible. The actual status of the natural enemies of the leafhopper is difficult to assess, but they are considered to be of great importance. The most notable are flies of the family Pipunculidæ and parasitic wasps of the Dryinidæ group. Predacious bugs, one of which is Geocoris pallens, are said to be of equal importance as parasites in reducing its numbers. The development and successful production of strains of beet resistant to the curly top disease has greatly reduced the losses incurred by the spread of the virus disease. By this means the cultivation of sugar beet has been made possible in districts formerly found to be unsuitable.
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The Beet Leafhopper. Nature 150, 175 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/150175b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/150175b0