Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-12-04
Insects on Fruit Trees.

In looking over the second number Of
the American EntomOlogist, we observe
a number of interesting facts in relation
to insects, their depredations and
benefits, on which we make a few brief
notes.
The BARK LoUsE.-B ID. Walsh, one
of the editors, in a journey through
Illinois, discovered the very important
and interesting fact that what is termed
the oyster shell bark louise cannot per
manently exist in the southern half of the
State. Trees, infested with this insect,
taken from the northern part year
ago, were found to be nearly or entirely
free from them, nothing remaining but
the old dry scales. This has always
proved to be the result.
INSTINCT OF THE CURCULIo.-Ne have
expressed the opinion on former occasions
that the ccrculio has higher reputation
for instinct and sagacity than it deserves.
We have been told that it would not sting
fruit over a hard pavement where the
future larvae could not enter the ground.
The truth is that the pavement prevented
the insects from harbOring there. Much
has also been said Of its avoiding fruit
hanging over water, and many of our
readers have heard of DR., Underhills
row of trees leaning over stream, where
the crop on the branches above the wa
ter remained unstung, while the portion
over the land was badly injured We
found, on climbing out on these trees, that
the fruit was as badly stung over the was
ter as elsewhere-the difficulty Of reach
ing It for examination inducing belief
that it was uniniured. We find another
instance of a similar want of sagacity in
the number of the Entomologist before
us. 1t is stated that DIR. Hull, Of Alton,
saved his peaches from their attacks by
PLANTING alternate rows of plums. He
tried the same experiment by planting
plums with pears but here be was less
successful They stung both pears and
plums, although the larvae has never yet
been found to reach maturity in the fruit
| of the pear, but always to perish before
becoming fully grown. Although the in
sect thus fails to multiply its species in
the pear, the puncture forms a hard,
woody depression in the frdit, which be-
comes Guarled, deiormed and unstable,
ENEMIES TO TIE CURCUIIO. Seven
| different insects are described and mostly
| figured, three % which are certainly
proyed TO devour the Larvae of the ours
culio, and the other four are strongly
suspected Of so doing. Among these are
some species of CdrdbuS or Ground
beetle. some of which every one may
have seen in turning up fat stones, and
which are distinguished by their raPiC
movements. A correspondent says ofon1
of these They take the grub, think
before it enters the earth. had the sat
isfaction of seeing one OF them tasten hr
laws upon the larva of the little Turk
The larva squirmed dreadfully, but il
vain, for his remorseless foe held hln
tight, and he soon gave up the ghost
The editor had made a similar obserya
ton. The Carabns was tried with Othe
, insects, including the apple-worm, but h
would not touch them. Ills tayOnt
morsel appeared to be the Larvae OF Tn
| curculio The editor adds, But for tn
} beneficent operations Of these little, IA
| | significant creatures which most peopl
, | whenever they can get chance, woul'
E pjtilessIy crush under their feet, ther
can be but little doubt that not slngl
bushel of peaches would have bee
grown in Southern Illinois for the pa
five years" A proof Of the want OF dl
1 elimination in many cultivators, Is the
earnest plea for the protection OF certai
{ birds which freely destroy these san
q insect benefactors.- Country Genttema