The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-06-21
THE MAPLE LOUISE.

l
box elders of Ottawa, As well as most parts ol
Illinois, so badly infested with the maple
louise this year. that unless relief soon comes
in some way, the soft naples OF lllinois,among
our most thrifty and valuable timber a well
as most slightly and useful shade trees, will he
measurably destroyed
The insect is scientifically known rs the
Lecuntum JctricoHicis, and is spreading
throughout all the northern states with won
derful rupidity. 1t Is single brooded. The ie-
male remains on the limb in dormant con
diion during winter, Upon the approach Of
warm weather IN the spring the body distcnds,
and in May It's eggs are found cnvclopcd in II
white, waxy mass About the middle of June
the lice begin to hatch, the process continuing
some three weeks after which they move TO
the leaves, setting along the mldrib, upon the
under side, and IN the fall again iasten them
selves TO the limbs for the winter.
Appearing, as they do in such endless NIL.
lions, of course no general attempt to destroy
them can bc successful, though many individu-
al uttS Idil w S''t' ~ '''iN
now is exactly the time to take them. The
best way, probably Is 10 get large syringe
or one of those little torcepumps the hardware
men have and which are used for washing
windows, sidewalks, &c, and having charged
it with strong soap.suds, mixed with. Il little
carbolic acid drench the trees. One or two
such drenchings Of each tree will seldom fail
to prove ctiectual
Pests of this kind, however, which come in
such nnumcrablc throngs like the potato bug
grasshopper, chinch bug, lIessian fly, &c,
can never be successfully overcome by mans
devices and our only dependence is on ma
lures own abundant provision to take care Of
herself Doubtless the maple louise, as well as
grasshopper, chinch bug, &c, has his vacuum
to fill in natures grand designs where he is
beneficial and even indispensable. But occa
sionaly, from unusual metcoric conditions
aud other causes, such insects multiply inor-
dinatcly and break out of the bounds nature
had set and overflow regions not intended for
them, H. the grasShoppcr inundalon occasion,
ally breaks loose out west However, nature
provides also for such eNigcncicS, and soon
raises up an enemy to destroy the superabund
ant brood and brings things back to their cor
rect level. Thus brood Of parasites soon
rose up and cXcrmlnated the grasshoppcrs-
thus an enemy to the potato bug has arisen
and about rid us OF that pest; and, loUy UtOi
1t is already found that the enemy Of the maple
louise has put in an appearance. He comes in
the form of Il small blow ily-one of the great
family Of NcurOpterd, to which also belongs the
common house.fly. Within the last few days,
wherever Il tree is noticed to be particularly
infested with the maple louise, will also be seen
a swarm of these flies. They settle on the
white, waXy cluster of eggs and inject into it
another egg, which soon matches out a small
larva that eats the young louise. 1t may be
year or two before the enemy grows strong
enough to eXtcrmiHatc the maple louise, but he
is up and at it, and nothing is surer than his
ultimate triumph. Mayor Nicholson first call
ed cur attention to this fly, and watching his
operations and having with a microscope seen
his grub at work among the little aphids, we
are satisfied he is the eXtermlnatOr we are long.
ing for and who deserves every encouragement
and to be remembered in all the coming fourth
of July oratlons!