Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-05-26
Trapping the Insects.

We find in the .Netc York Observer Of May
18Th an instructive article from Mr. S. Z. Todd,
On the insects which make such destructive work
with fruit trees, rose-bushes, grape vines, cab
bsees, ETC., over all the land. 1t is chiefly occu-
MED with the best methods which experience has
made known for their destruction. This is best
done, not by seeking them out and killing them
while in the set Of committing their depredAtons
though that is good as far as 1t goes-out oy
trapping the parent moths, butterflies and bugs
beforo thew have laid their eggs. The destruc-
ton of every moth or butterfly, prevents the
the lsyiug of large number Of eggs, each Of
which matches out into minute larTa' gruo'
caterpillar, or worm, which finds the food ior
its growth in the leaf the bark, the fruit or the
wood Nothing injurious, to any amount worm
speaking Of. in vast majority Of specles' Is
done by the parent moth or butterfly, except 10
lay the eggs which produce the larvS. After
these larv,e have gained their full growth they
| become torpid, change into second form, the
| pupa or chrysslis, which sometimes in the
| form Of a cocoon, sometimes that Of a rounded
shell-like case is found attached to the undersde
Of chips, fence boards. shingles, the bark Of
trees. and sometimes buried under ground,
where it awaits the appointed time when. with
/ the changed season, it bursts its covering and
snnesrs in some one of the countless forms Of
insect re-m2ny Of which are beautiful IN
form and color, and so attractive in their mo-
tons. Some Of these, ike the grasshopper and
the terrible locus; Of the east, are destrccuveiy
vorscious. and before their armies the leaves Of
the trees and the heritage Of the fields disappear
as before sweeping FIRE. But mostly the
moths and butterflies get their sustenance, duiing
their short winged life, from the juices OF
flowers. and it Is from their habit in this respect
that they can be trapped BY exposing open
moutbsd bottles Of sweet water in the bushes AID
trees. and among the towering shrubs which
thew frequent. Sucking the sweet water, they
fall in; and once in they are sure to be drowned
Says Mr.. Todd
/ have tested the efficacy Of this insect trap,
and have found it al that can be desired Tor
l trapping the butterflies, moths, millers and
/ beetles Of every species Of insects that iniest
fruit trees and vines, vegetables and flowers
The worms on grape vines, toe worms on toosc-
CO. on tomatoes, and on Irish potatoes, all spring
/ from eggs deposited BY butterflies which can
readily be trapped in open bottles half hilel VIE
very sweet water. We trapped last season.
scores of many species Of depreiators. in our
/ city lot in Brooklyn. Several gentlemen who
reside in the valley Of the Hudson river, have
/ trapped more than a bushel each, consisting OF
almost an endless variety Of moth milers, beetles
bugs and flies. Every fruit tree, every ever
[ green and deciduous tree. every berry bush and
/ fruit bearing vine, and every vegetable cultiva-
ted in the garden is attacked by species Of
/ noxious insects which flourish only where their
appropriate species Of trees or fruit are cultiya-
ted and strange to say, every one Of these foes
spring from paren, insects in The form Of butter
flies. moth milers, beetles or bugs, every species
/ ofwhi.h will hazard life for the sake Of getting
taste Of the contents Of the bottle
The device is certainly cheap, simple, and
easily obtained by every one and little stten-
ton to trapping the insects BY gardeners gen
orally, would doubtless make great difference
with the garden crops.