Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-14

The following experience with the bugs is
thus humorousy related by the editor OF the
Portland Transcript:
owe observe that several of our exchanges
have commenced the annual campaign against
that voraclous marauder, the yellow striped
bug. We desire TO be heard on this matter.
We think we have right to our say We
have had our experience and we mean to tell
it, Our acquaintance with this little insect has
not boen of long continuance, but it has been
quite intimate. We have learned to appreci-
ate its industry, perseverance and sagacity
we may say in flct we have great respect for
it. In our city garden it was unknown. We
were occasionally visited by the great brown
squash bug, which we masSacred without mer-
cy, but since becoming acquainted with the
striped variety, we have learned to consider
the former harmless creature, quite moderate
i'll its ravages, and altogether very consider
ate bug The first year we cultivated our
present garden, we were unmoested by the
yellow coated gentry. Squashes, cucumbers
and pumpkins thrived beyond measure, and
all thoughts Of bugs were far from us. Indeed,
in our confident security, we were led to be-
lieve the yellow striped bug about which we
have read so much in the agricultural papers,
to be no better than humbug or a bug
bear. But, alas this fatal security cost us
dear! During the succeeding spring we motto
ed one morning number of bugs with yellow
backs, upon some OF our promising vines.
Presently we observed that they appeared to
be decorating the leaves with sort of
lace-work, more ornamental than useful.
We began to open our eyes to the state of
the case, and concluded that the yellow
striped bug had come at last. We have been
more and more of the same opinion ever since.
SHowever, we were not to be frightened by
bug. We resol ed to take immediate and eff
tectual measures to stop the ravages of the
enemy. A friend said, put meal on the vines /;
we did, and the bugs grew tat on it. Try
lime, said another we tried it, and came to
the conclusion that the plants had the worst of
it. The bugs not only continued their ravages
they multiplied and increased they came
in swarms, and though we pursued them re-
morselessly with thumb and finger they literally
covered the vines. People told us they would
only eat the tender leaves, but we found they
not only eat the leaves, tender and tough, but
the very stalks down to the ground-they
want the entire plant. 10 console us, some
said their ravages would not continue long
but they came early in May, and staid till late
in the summer. We began to think the hab-
its of the creature were very imperfectly
known-but had the consolation of feeling
that we were in a fair way to become very ia
miliar with them. Still we continued the con
test-hopeessly, we confess but we meant
to fight till the last leaf was gone. We put
onions in the hills, we laid bits OF camphor on
nice white paper, we planted tomatoes, we
sprlnkled ashes, we covered with cotton bat
ting-all, all in vain. The bugs tapped their
wings and laughed in our face. Day by day
the plants grew raggeder. until it made us feel
poverty stricken to look at them. When we
viewed the great gashes in tie big leaves of
our choicest plants, we felt like striking an at.
tltude and exclaming with Mark Anthony =
"See, what a rent the envious cusSeS made"
We did our best, but we were beaten the
yellow jackets remained masters of the field
A few torlorn looking plants we kept along by
means of open boxes, but all our hopes of
squashes were dashed to the ground We had
paid an extraordinary price for Hubbard seed,
and never saw the color of that excellent va
riety of squash.
Thus ended the first campaign We were
beaten, but not put to flight. We camped ON
the field, intending to renew the contest anoth.
err season. Remembering the prudent maxim,
"in time of peace prepare for war;" we spent
all our leisure time during the winter in max.
ing covered boxes, and this spring again took
the field prepared for action. The plants came
up, we clapped on the boxes, and felt secure.
AS the enemy did not appear so early as last
year, we grew careless, and one morning
found nice large plant that had been left
exposed, literally alive with the bugs. 1t had
not much life in it, however by the time we
had driven them off. The covered boxes, for.
tunately, proved too much for the voracious
intrudcrs, and baffled there they flew to our
pumpkin plants and made sad havoc. Ami.
mated by our love OF pumpkin pies, we re-
newed the contest, and this time with a new
weapon. We had lost all faith in any rene
dy, save the boxes believing there is nothing
sufficiently noxous or deadly to conquer the
yellow striped bug, but the New England Far
mer, having recommended spirits of turpen'
tine applied by a hen feather or on cotton put
on a stick and stuck in the hills in santing
direction over the plants, and several of our
contemporaries declaring they had tried it
with success, we concluded to experiment
with it. Thus far it has partially succeeded.
We are inclined to think the bugs don't
like it, but they will endure the pun
gent odor tor line rather than go hungry.
In our somewhat trying experience, we have
found open boxes the least Objectionable RENE
dy. Covered boxes are more efiectual, but
they exclude the light too much. The bugs
will rarely enter the open boxes, and the plants
have the benefit Of air and light.
And now, having learned so much of the
habits of these creatures, we want to learr
something of their origin, Whence do they
come! Did they enter our garden the second
year in the manure, or did they spy us ou
from afar and colonize upon us? In all oul
researches in insect literature, we find very
little written about the yellow striped bug
We have looked at the creature through the
microscope, and have come to the conclusion
that, like man, it is "fearfuly and wonderfully
made" and like vice
"That is monster of so trightiul mein,
AS to be hated, needs but to be SEEM
We have discovered also that the creature
"a. q, hail T..
very numerous family it is, too. You will
now and then find bug bearing on its back
mass Of what has the appearance Of being mi
mute brownish eggs. Looking at these through
the microscope, you will be surprised TO fine
each and every one Of them full formed bug
alive and kicking, yet all apparently glued tC
their mothers back. We have counted fifty
ON the back OF single bug Occasionally The