The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-02-28
NEW YORK STATE AGRICULTURAL so
GETTY.
Injurious Insects.
REPORT FROM DIR. FITCH.

REPORT FROM DIR. FITCH.
At the evening session, DIR. Asa Fitch,
Entomologist to the Society, presented a
synopsis of his Annual Report. He spoke
first Of the PIERS rape, the Cabbage or
Turnip butterhy--an insect which was
very prominent in public regard year ago,
appearing suddenly on the cabbage-crop,
and doing great injury. 1t was first seen
in America some 30 years since, in Quebec,
Year before last it spread very widely, and
as other imported worms had proved more
injurious two or three years after their
general introduction than when first notic-
ed, it was an important question whether
this one was going to multiply extensively.
1t has not done very much harm during the
past year, however, from some unknown
cause probably atmospheric and not due
to the depredations of its enemies. In May
last, the Entomologist resumed the task of
gathering and arranging specimens of injuri-
GUS insects for the Museum, which he had
undertaken three times before, but tempo
rarily abandoned, finding the undertaking
vast one some 200 are at present III
the cases. The Scotosta ungulata, deli
cate moth of peculiar appearance, whose
Transformations European collectors had
failed to trace, was next mentioned; in
July last, DIR. Fitch was so fortunate as to
get it from measure worms, secured the
year before. They feed on cherry leaves,
uniting two together so closely that no
parasitic foe is able to effect an entrance
between. Red raspberries are often in
iured or spoiled by small white worm
which finds harborage on the inner side Of
the cavity of the berry, and being often
minute and difficult to find, proves exceed
ingly annoying and disgusting. 1t comes
from the egg of small oval beetle of drab
color and an eighth of an inch long. An
extracted tooth, with mite of its root,
sent to him by dentist for examination,
called the DOCTORS attention to the subject
of mites and ticks. The most COM
mon representative of the latter class
is the wood-tick, which was formerly
very abundant at the North, but is
now exceedingly rare, though still plenti-
full in new sections of the country and
very troublesome. They are found pro-
tusely on bushes and trees, and particular
ly on fallen leaves in the woods, whence
they often invade the person of any one
sitting down, attaching themselves to the
body, especially to the feet and legs of
those going barefoot. Animals they fire.
quently actually destroy, though they are
not found IN cultivated meadows. Ihey
get hall their bodies into the ilesh, ana are
not at first noticed, but give great pam
after awhile, producing swelling as large
as pea, and breaking in twoii an attempt
is made to pull them out, the part remain
ing IN the wound producing inflammation,
suppuration and violent itching. Another
great nuisance Is the "Torturng tlck." OF
which DR.. Fitch has seen only three. In
July, lSGS, girl was awakened from sleep
by pain in her leg. and found that one OF
these insects had almost buried itself I'M
der the skin; it was full OF blood, and
swelling had risen around it to the size Of
bean. 1t was taken out, but the pain
continued, the bug beng. evidently posion-
Gus ammonia was applied, but did little
good, the surface OF the flesh becoming
Veslcated, the Wnole leg swollen, and sllght
commissions ensuing. The symptoms yield.
ed to appropriate medlcatlon, however, and
the girl got well. linen tnere are internal
ticks and mites, such as the Itch insect
some oil these produce contagious sores.
The dysentry mite, so-called from being
found IN the executions OF persons suffer.
ing with That disease, lnlests all parts OF
the aiimentaTy canal. insects are iouno
also IN the praln, sometimes deep IN lts
substance. Ihese mterlial parasites are
doubtless under some circumstances the
cause OF lesion ana mysterious sickness
which puzzles the best medical skill. A
young lazy recently appied 10 oamnridge
dentist 70 extract tooth from winch she
was sunermg agony ne was doatn 10 ara"
II, as II appeared SOUND, put nnalIy qua SO
no apphcatlons renewing tne pam, when J, Q
minute insecs, no douot !Le cause OF ING
trouble, was discovered on lt-evlaently n9l
IN the gum, put on OF IN the tooth itself. II
was not tne aysentery niue, out something
else, ana only tne one-hanoretn part OF an
men long nen,,sts should look lor tnese. y