The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-03-21
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
The Insec.s of the Apple

These are: 1. The borer iSaperda bivit-
tatd) which is nocturnal and very destructive
to our orchards. The female deposits her
eggs on the lower part of the trunks of
trees. They hatch ont a footless grub which
enters the tissues of the bark, burrowing
deeper as they grow, till they penetrate the
heart of the wood. In the spring the per-
destroy, cut into the dscolored and de-
pressed portions of tie bark, and if the grub
has penetrated deeper, follow with a stout
wire. AS preventive, scrub the bark with
soft soap, or other alkaline washes, in May
or June, at the same time placing some in
the forks of the limbs, to be dissolved by the
rains. Examine the trees again in August,
as before, injecting the wash into these re-
treats. Encourage the presence of the birds
especially those that destroy the grubs of
wood-boring insects.
2. The Thick-legged Borer (Chrysobothris
temorGtd) is variety common to the West.
! The perfect insect is black beetle one-half
! inch long; it may be found on the trees in
June and July. 1t works higher up the
trunk than the SdperdG. Look out for the
young grubs in their shallow burrows in the
bark in August, before they have entered the
wood.
8. The Twig Borer (Bostrichus bicauda-
tus) attacks the small limbs, producing an
tutcb SlIllldI W DllSut, duu causing Tic uGdlu
of the limbs in midsummer. The insect is a
beetle one quarter inch long, and works his
way into the wood near the axil of a leaf.
Catch and destroy the insect; cut off and
burn the dead branches.
4. Another variety is the Leptostylus dcu-
fferus, short, thick, brownishgray beetle,
with spines on his wing covers thence the
iname) Seek for it in August. The larvae are
then small worms, which make long winding
burrows under the bark.
5. The Bark Beetle (Tomicus mGli) is a
new variety, is small, smooth, black Or chest
nut-red and cylindrical. The young feed I'M
der the bark, and penetrating the wood, de-
str0y the young trees
The remedy for the two last, is to keep the
trees washed with strong I've. made white
with lime, during May and June.
6 The Bark Louise (AspidiotuS conchJOr-
naiS) makes sad havoc in some sections. This
| insect is very prolific and soon covers the
young twigs, abstracting their vital juices ;and
often the leaves and fruit are oVerrun. The
indus of this louise is the Unknown "scae"
found on the branches, flat, brown and over
tapping. The eggs hatch in May; when at
lacking the bark the insects absorb the sap.
Remedies for these pests are washes of
strong lye, solutions of potash, or soda, or
whitewash, lye and sulphur, or tobacco boiled
in lye. Apply in May or June. The lady
bug feeds upon this insect.
T.. The Leaf Louise (Aphis mali) is small
green wingless insect. They crowd upon the
tips of the twigs, and the under sides of the
: leaves, living upon the sap. The eggs are
laid in deep cracks in the bark, and hatch
when the buds expand.
To destroy the eggs, scrape off the rough
bark and apply alkaline, or lime wishes.
8. The Root Louise (Pemphigus pyri) is
also great pest; found on the roots in warly
excresences. To destroy, remove the earth,
and apply (hot rep.) soap suds. This louise
is especially destructive to nursery stock.
8. The Cooling Moth (CdrpOcdpsG pom
OneLLG) gives us SO much trouble that we
have now but few perfect specimens of fruit.
This moth appears early in the summer and
drops its eggs singly on the blossom ends of
the apples. The grub passes from thence to
the core of the fruit. In three Or four weeks
it has reached its maturity, and eating its
way out, instinctively seeks the foot of the
tree, and secreting itself under the bark,
passes into the pupa state. This furnishes
the opportunity 70 destroy them. These
pup@ may also be caught in rags placed in
the forks of the trees; or by bands of hay
placed around the trunks. Examine these
every few days and despatch the entrapped.
The moth may be caught by lamps or fires
in the orchard. All wormy fruit should i'm
mediately be picked up and cooked for the
stock. Sheep, &C., kept in the orchard, will
destroy very many of these insects.
10. The Tent or Nest Caterpillar (Cgisio-
campo ansericana) is found not only on the
apple, but other trees, as the wild cherry and
persimmon. The eggs may be readily dis
tinguished in the winter lying under asheath.
The injected branches may be taken off and
burned; or the nests may be destroyed in
the spring.
dnaericdno) is a fiat worm, and when at rest
can scarcely be distinguished from the bark.
They feed only at night The remedy is to
hunt for and destroy Country Gentleman.