The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-06-26
THE ADVOCATE.
BY REQUEST.
From the Farmers Almanac, 1914.
NATURAL HISTORY OFTHE
lLL.l-CANKER WORM
Tpy REouEsT.1

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE
,llata CANIkER WORM. ~
This voracious insect, for the three last
years past, has extended its ravages to al
most every part of the country, threaten
ing destruction to orcharding. 1T is pre-
sumed that particular description ofthis
destructive insect would be acceptable to
the agricultural part Of the community.
The following history is mostly extract
cd from paper by William cambridge
Peak, Esq. of Kittery and published by
the Massachusetts Agricultural Society !;
"whose useful and ingenious account they
adiudged the premium offered by them Of
fihy dsllars, or piece Of plate ofthat val
ae, or he society's Gold Medal at the
option of the author, to the person who
who should give the most satisfactory nat
ural history ofthe Canker Worm, through
all its transformations.
The canker worm is said to have been
observed first in the Southern States,
where it is probably native 1t is GER
tain it must be spread by some means in
dependent ofitself. II may have been in
troducedinto New England, by the impor
tation oftrees from the Southern States,
on which the eggs were deposited; or dis
seminated inthe larva or caterpillar stale,
in all populous parts ofthe United States,
BY falling from trees upon carriages and
travellers passing under them. This
Bcon;ectured is rendered probable by its
being found in all places which have inter
course with such parts as are infested with
i; and by its being unknown in new set
elements.
1t isprincipally found on the apple but,
las been discovered on PLUMB tree which
tood very near an nHapple troe.AJ fBtf'
The perfect insect first presents itself
10 our observation. dLct us therefore no.
ice it in this stage of its existence, and
race its offspring until it arrive at the
ame stage again. 7T'izf ,Lef a'
N Season ,cken they rise.--Thcse insects
appear in the spring earlier than any 9th
pr of the moth tribe; about the middle of
March, and sometimes earlier. .-LThcir
Use, however, from the earth will be de-
dyed or hastened according to the temper
pure ofthe atmosphere and state of the
bil. es qu3.
& Form. They are found under a double
srm, the males being furnished with, and
females destitute .ofwings. This cir
instance necesitates the female to as
md the tree by its trunk, in order to de
bit her eggs upon the branches. The
kles by their wings resort to them, and
- found in the evening lowering round
~ trees. ~ ie -ott ~el fip8
1smc Of ofpa;,ing. In three or four DAYS
z " they begin TO rise, they are found
- copuia. This Office is performed in
y Tor i2 days after their first appearance.
(e males then die and disappear.
1fne, manner, and places of depostt;ng
eggs.-ln about thirteen days the fe-
|n!dcs" deposit their eggs These they
place in the rough or fractured burks, !
Aarp angles Of the branches and other
ball cavities on the smaller limbs of the |
es; and where there are spots of moss
pn the smaller limbs, they seem most
"a ofinsiDuating them INTO the cavities
ween its leaves. For this purpose the
ales are furnished with tube through
ch the egg is passed, with which she
estigates the apuftures in the bark or
ss, and ascertafns their depth. Grass
pers in the same manner intrude their
under the roots Of grass. Each fe-
lays at a medium 100 eggs. The
pate purpose Of their being, .tsis per-
$eo' the females also die. The egg is
&c one 3oth Of an inch in length, Of
co'or, with yeIlowish cast; as the
oaea animal advances in ripeness the
assumes a brownish hue; in twenty
is Of lead color, and with a modor-
magn,her the worm may be seen to
Le in the she'll 80,
,hen hatehed--On the 2Ist day the
n or iarva breaks from rs prison, Is
tenth Of an inch in length and furnish
hh ton fcot six forward and four be-
IN moving rom placs to place they
up tho hinder feet to the broast, and
no the body % fake } new grasp
"s snssrior ssst, thus seeming to