Applegater Spring 2010 13 Notes from a Rogue Entomologist: For vegetable growers— prepare to meet the BY RICHARD J. HILTON As the freshly planted seeds begin this was the fi rst planting in the area, all the to emerge from the soil or as you put striped cucumber beetles in the vicinity had out plants carefully nurtured in the homed in on this one fi eld and were having greenhouse or purchased at the spring a, well, fi eld day. Th e infestation was, to fair, a number of pests await them. quote the grower, “of biblical proportions.” Two groups of beetles are among the Every little transplant seemed to have a dozen most commonly encountered pests of beetles feeding on it; in many cases the leaves young plants, the cucumber beetles and were almost totally skeletonized. Also, just to the fl ea beetles. add insult to the grower’s injury, it seemed that a majority of the beetles were enjoying Cucumber beetles conjugal relations. In a desperate attempt to We have a couple of species locally salvage the planting, a huge tractor mounted which are referred to as cucumber beetles vacuum machine was brought in to suck and while they are roughly the same up the adult beetles but it was a lost cause. Photos clockwise from top left: Western spotted cucumber ; western striped size, about one third of an inch, they Th e problem was that all the beetles which cucumber beetle; western potatoe fl ea beetle; and cabbage fl ea beetle. Credit for are otherwise quite distinct in both had been generated from the previous year’s all photos: Ken Gray Image Courtesy of Oregon State University. appearance and habit. The western squash plantings were drawn to that early family they feed on and since there are a extensive that he left it to the Smithsonian spotted cucumber beetle, Diabrotica planting. Th e neighbor who planted a few number of diff erent species of fl ea beetles Institution and, moreover, they were happy undecimpunctata undecimpunctata, is weeks later was in much better shape as the around, many plants can be at risk. In to get it. yellowish green with eleven black spots beetles had already gone elsewhere to do particular the cole crops: cabbage, broccoli, Cucumber beetles and fl ea beetles and will feed on a wide array of plants. Th is their damage. caulifl ower, and Brussel sprouts which are both belong to the Chrysomelidae or leaf insect is ubiquitous in our cultivated areas; While the in the crucifer or mustard family are often beetle family, named for reasons which are if you think you’ve seen a green lady beetle, has become more numerous as the number attacked by fl ea beetles. hopefully becoming obvious. Controlling odds are it was a spotted cucumber beetle. of larger squash plantings in the region has Other species specialize on these leaf-feeders can be diffi cult, since the The western striped cucumber beetle, grown, the spotted cucumber beetle always solanaceous plants, a.k.a. the nightshade adults of all of these species overwinter trivittatum, has three black seems to be around. Despite its name, the family: potato, tomato, pepper, and outside of the garden or fi eld, and the larvae stripes on a light yellow background and spotted cucumber beetle does not lay its eggplant. As with the cucumber beetles, are often protected in the soil. If, or when, is a specialist, mainly feeding on cucurbits eggs on cucumbers but, instead, favors corn, the flea beetles overwinter as adults so these beetles become pests in your garden, such as squash, zucchini, cucumbers, beans and grasses. While the adults will feed they are ready to attack seedlings and new it is a good idea to destroy plant residues melons and the like. on cucurbits and can cause problems they transplants in the spring. With the fl ea in the fall, including both crop vegetation Both of these species overwinter as are more often found on corn and legumes. beetles, only the adults are of concern, as and any surrounding weedy growth. Th ere adults and, in the spring, they lay their In other parts of the country, some of the the tiny grubs which feed on roots and are varieties of squash and melons available eggs at the base of plants, when the eggs species in the genus Diabrotica are known as leaves rarely infl ict serious damage. Th e which are tolerant of cucumber beetles, hatch, the grub-like larvae feed on the corn rootworms as the root-feeding grubs are adult beetles begin by chewing little pits fl oating row covers can be used to protect roots and in some cases, usually with a major pest of corn in the Midwest. in the leaf tissue, this is sometimes called new plantings in the spring, and healthy young plants, the root feeding can be “shotholing”. As the feeding continues the vigorous plants should be able to withstand quite damaging. Th e adults feed on new Flea beetles leaves will take on a ragged appearance. quite a bit of feeding. And if there are a lot leaves and other succulent plant parts. In Th e fl ea beetles are smaller, about Since flea beetles tend to specialize on of striped cucumber beetles in your locale, the spring when new plants are struggling half the size of the cucumber beetles, and certain plants, there are a lot of fl ea beetle you can always hope that your neighbors to establish, this leaf feeding can cause are often metallic in color. Th ey get their species to be found. One prolifi c collector plant their squash before you do. quite a bit of stunting and smaller plants name from their propensity to jump when of flea beetles was Louis Gentner, the Richard J. Hilton can be overwhelmed. I vividly recall a visit disturbed and if you have a magnifying entomologist at the Southern Oregon 541-772-5165, ext. 227 to one of our larger organic farms where glass you can see that these beetles have an Experiment Station (which is now the Note: Richard Hilton is Senior Research squash plants were being transplanted enlarged hind femur, analogous to our thigh. Research & Extension Center) from the Assistant/Entomologist at OSU—Southern to get an early start; unfortunately, as Flea beetles tend to be specifi c to the plant 1920’s to the 1960’s. His collection was so Oregon Research and Extension Center.

fascination. Two about his boomerangs, he takes his passion years ago he and makes it happen. If he is not doing Boomerang Man started a project demos at the Grant’s Pass Boys and Girls BY LINDA FISHER with fellow Club or the Pumpkin Patch at Pacifi ca, in boomerangers Williams, he is doing demonstrations and I wasn’t sure if I was and most have a keen interest in things called, talking to the school’s DARE programs. standing in a room that fl y, the aerodynamics of it all. “Boomerangs for Fantone explained that boomerangs can filled with magical Fantone is originally from Baghdad.” Since be a shop project, an art project, a science flying , fantasy butterflies or, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and how he that time, over project and most certainly are great for I’m not sure what I thought. Since I ended up in Applegate, Oregon I never 300 boomerangs physical education classes. Most of the was visiting with David Fantone, the did get around to asking. I am just glad have been sent boomerangs, if not being made in a class boomerang guy, I figured I must be he is here. I did however, to the service setting as a do-it-yourself project, are made looking at boomerangs, but so many colors ask him, “What else about men and women on site, at his house in Murphy. He uses made me doubt my own whereabouts. I the boomerang fascinates stationed in materials of light wood and plastic for kids, was about to become educated about you?” He easily replied, Baghdad. The or heavier ply woods and paper embedded the world of boomerangs. Fantone, age “All my life I have been USO helped resin materials for competition. Speaking 54, explained that what I was looking at focusing on developing the with the distribution. Fantone, of competition, in 2005, Fantone placed were the recreational “boomerangs” used spiritual side of myself and himself a veteran, told me, “You fi rst in accuracy throwing at the west coast for leisure, recreation and competition. let my body go. A few years have no idea how lonely and round up in Salem, Oregon and fi rst place Th ese are all “returning” boomerangs. back, I realized that the homesick those soldiers can get.” at the nationals for best design. In 2006 he “Non-returning” boomerangs, known mind, body and spirit must He has also sent boomerangs to won for best craftsmanship and in 2008 as throw sticks or kylies, were used as work together in harmony. our soldiers via the Wayne Owen for best artwork. Fantone has a ‘borrow far back as Roman times, as weapons for For some people, this would not be a Fighting Arts School, in Grant’s Pass. a boomerang” program, just like a library hunting small prey. new concept, for me it was. Some people He said this was very personal for him as program. As much as he loves competing Fantone grinned and told me meditate, some pray; I have my boomerangs. many of the students at the Wayne Owen in all aspects of the boomerang, he said he he was very overweight at one time. If I have a strong thought or a wish or a School, where he himself trained, have would much rather teach someone, in his He decided to take up kung fu and prayer, I give this feeling to my boomerang, family overseas. Fantone helped many shop, how to build a boomerang, instead lost 70 pounds and then his weight throw it out to the universe and take what of the young students make their own of selling you one. Th e lesson is free, but loss hit a plateau. He decided to try ever comes back. Of course, this is not what boomerangs, which were then shipped in return you make Fantone a boomerang. exercising by playing Frisbee golf but I do all the time with my boomerangs or with a letter or a special message. “I feel David Fantone is one amazing man that did not entice him, so he switched even that frequently, but that path is there the boomerang carries its own message, of many other talents, not thus mentioned. to boomerangs. He became hooked; he when I need it.” ‘Return Home to US’, Fantone proudly To contact David Fantone, e-mail him at lost another 40 pounds. He told me the Fantone is focused and very murmured. [email protected]. average age of boomerangers is at least 50 philanthropic with his boomerang Not only is Fantone passionate Linda Fischer • 541-846.6218