Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-06-26
3arm ann fonsfboIn.


10 the propagation of the Colorado Po-
are very plenty every where. Eternal
vigilance will undoubtedly be the price
of q good crop Of potatoes this yesr; bat
the energetic farmer will save his po-
tstoes and will be well paid for ii too.
The potato bug has come and the farm
ers must study him and learn how TO
protect themselves against his ravsges.
From little pamphlet Issued BY C..
T. Reynolds & Co. New York manu-
fac,urers OF Paris Green. we gather
much that NAV be Interesting and use
ful to our readers.
When in 1924. the Eutomologis,.
Saw. first observed in the Rocky Noun
tains and introduced TO the scientific
world. sn apparently harmless and in.
significant beetle. he little thought that
In less than an average lifetime It would
become one Of the greatest pest Of mod,
eru times, rivalling some of The plaques
of Egypt in intensity, utterly dwsrfng
them in extent OF territory afflicted.
The loss caused by the rsvages OF the
Colorado Potato Beetle must be com
puted BY hundreds of millions of dollars,
and far exceeds that OF all other potato
pests combined. No insect has ever
created such 9 commotion in the world.
or gained such notoriety. Its history
has been faithfully chronicled-iis pro-
gross herslded by telegraph and news
paper. Books and pamphlets have
been written on il dd Museum. Learn.
ed bodies have delibera,ed on It. snd
il has been favorite bone of contention
for the Swans OF both hemispheres. II
has received the grsv and distinguished
consideration OF csbinets-S,aiesmen
LAYING sside the Eastern question"
and the balance OF power" have d.
vided their attention between il and
the Russo-Turkish war Psrlisments
have passed special enactment. In its
behoof. and every effort that the ingen-
ui;v of man could devise has been
eIerted in vain 10 arrest its progress
Il is sufficient TO say that il is indigin-
Gus to the Rocky Mountains, where ii
was first noticed bv the eutomologist
Thomas Say. in 1924. Its food was then
8 species Of wild potato, (lSoldngm
rosratum.) which, however. being
scarce. the number OF the beetles was
correspondingly small When the frs,
settlers began 10 cultivate the edible
potato. they completed the chain which
connected the home of the beetle with
the rest Of the country. aud in sixteen
years the insect spread over the land.
Al first they travelled 81 the rate OF 60 10
20 miles year, but on resching the
railroads they advanced some 800 miles
year. With its eastward progress we
are sll familiar. but ss mater of gen
ersl interest, and for convenience OF
future reference, we record the follow
ing data. In 1859. it was located west
Of Omaha City, Nebraska; two wears
later (ls6D it made its appearance in
Iowa. and In 1865. had not only over
run Missouri, but had crossed the Mis-
sissippi into Illinois. Indiana was In
vaded by it in 1868, Michigan in 1869.
and il reached Ohio in 1870. Ii was
reported in myriads in the Detroit river
Michigan. in the spring of 1871. and
crossed Lake Erie on boards, slaves.
chips, leaves or any floating object that
presented itself. II soon infested the
islands west of the lakes. was sbsndsnt
around London. Ontaria, and finally
occupied the entire region between the
ST. Clair and Niagara rivers.
Il reached the sesbosrd at many diff.
fsrent points in 1874. In 1873. 1t ap.
pesred in large numbers in portions o.
New York, New Jersey. Pennsylvania
and Virginia. In 1876. it was sbundan,
In all parts Of those States. aud made
lite appearance in New England. j,
overran the Eastern States, and occu.
pied large portion of Canada in 1877.
The Colorado beetle prspagates itself
with astonishing rspidiiy; several
broods tat least thrse) following each
other in the course of the year. The
first batch Of lsrvs makes its appearance
towards the end Of May, sometimes
even in April, if the weather be warm.
Each femsle lays from 200 10 1900
...- af f~aiua
on the under side of the leaves. 10
about six days the larv1 are hatched
and Immediately begin the work of de-
vasiation, which continues for about
ninsteen days. They then descend to
the ground, where they are transformed
into pups. at the surface of the earth.
The perfect beetle appears In ten to
fourteen days after the pups is formed
begins to pair in about week, and on
the fourteenth day commences to de-
pOsit her eggs.
1t requires but q very simple calcu-
lation to show that the progeny of Q
single female beetle in ore season may
exceed 100. 0O0. 600. In view Of such
sppalling prolincacy, many Of the
modes Of treatment, suggested from
zine to time, serve now merely to pro-
woke . smile. Picking the bugs and
larve from OF the plants By haad, for
instance, was thoroughly tried. but
il WAS generally found that after
the neId had been thus gone over. the
insects would be IS numerous IS ever
In twenty -four hours Invention has
been stimulated to the utmost to pro-
duce machisss that should rid the plants
81 the bugs BY shsking, jarring or
hrushipg them Oh. and afterwards bury.
barn. scald and crush them. Tbesret-
icaily. masy Of These should have
pcoved . fortune to their inventor, for