Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-05-15
The Grain Aphis--A Newly Dis
covered Enemy TO the Whcnt

covercd enemy 10 the wheat
Plant.
DR.. Asa Fitch, entomologist for the
New York Agricultural Society, has
presented the following interesting ac-
count of the grain ophis, an insect that
made its appearance, for the first time,
in this country last year
"Thc grain aphis made its advent
among us in a remarkable manner. That
an insect never seen before, and not
known to be present in our country,
should su ldenly be found everywhere in
New England and most Of the State of
New York, in profusc numbers in every
grain field of this wide extent Of territory,
and literally swarming upon and smoth
ering the crops in many fields, was a
phenomenon which probably has no par
allel in the annals Of science. How il
was possible for this insect so suddenly
to become thus astonishingly numerous,
was a mystery which seemed to most
persons to be incxplicoble. 1t is the
most prolific OF any insect which has
ever been observed. find it commence
bearing when it is but three days old,
and produces four young daily. Thus
the descendants Of single aphis will, in
twenty days, amount to upwards Of two
millions, each day increasing their NUM-
bers to almost double what they were the
day before. This serves to account for
the surprising numbers which we had Of
this insect.
This aphiS was supposed to be new
insect, and one writer went so far as to
name and describe it scientifically, in full
confidence that the world had never be-
fore Known anything like it. My exam
nations, however, fully assured me that
it was identical to a species which had
long been known in the grain fields Of
Europe; and on my announcing this, the
e erroneous views which one and another
! was adopting, were speedily abandoned
Our best European accounts Of this in
I sect, however, are very imperfect They
n only speak Of its occurring in june and
c July, whereas | find it is present on the
e grain the whole year round. And whcl
e the grain is but few inches high, if hal
n dozen Of these insects happen to locate
: themselves on the same plant, they sucl
= out its Juice to such an extent that tn,
9 plant withers and dies
J. AS yet have never been ablo to fin,
Is a male of these species. They are al
6. females This is proved by placing an
III one supposed to be a male in vial; mex
1t morning two or three young lice are Goun
G. in the vial with it, The general habi
III Of insects Of this kind are well known
&c The aphis on the apple tree and olhc
al fruit trees, when cold wether arrives
er gives birth to males The sexes thel
o pair, and the female thcrcupon deposit,
d eggs, which remain through the winter
to start these insects again the following
J. year. had supposed it would be the
same with the aphiS on the grain. But
II there was none. The females and thcil
" young continued to appear on the grain
IN TILL the end Of the season. They are every
ct where on the grain now, buried undc
or the snow, ready to warm into life an,
activity again when the spring opens.-
10 And on grain growing in llower-pots Of
nj which | am keeping these insects in ful
cs activity through the winter, to motto
IN what | can of their habits, no males hav
NJ yet appeared When and under wha
Ia circumstances this sex will be produced
-, is most curious subject, still remainin!
~, to be ascertancd. 1t at present looks n
n though the female and their dos ,endant
!. were prolific permanently, without an,
j, intercourse OF the sexes.
ie The last summer, such multitudes o
y. parasites, lady bugs, and other destroyer
m Of this aphis, had been gathered in til
>, grain fields at harvest time, that it SCENE
g. as though it would be eXterminatcd b.
;, them. But at the end of the season thi
insect appoard to be eabout as common o
~ the young rye as had noticed it at th
=. opening Of spring The presend indica
- tions, therefore, are, that this aphis will
70 bo as numerous on the grain tho coming
). summer as it was the past, if the season
proves favorable to its Increase"