Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-12-17
A chat With Farmers.
BY AGRICoLA.
ABOUT NoxIoUs INSECTS.

ABOUT NOXI0US INSECTS.
Originally the word bug meant nearly
the same as bug-bear whose appearance
was to be feared at night. Afterwards 1t
became a general name for insects which
were disliked or feared Now we have
become so familiar with bugs that they
excite but little emotion, except. perhaps,
when they come into our apartments or
gardens to annoy us.
There is class of bugs like the bed bug
which has as a part Of their mouth slen'
der beak bent under the body. (when not
in use) between the legs. This horny
sheath contains, in groove along its upper
surface, three stiff bristles rs sharp rs
needles. Bugs have no jaws, but live by
sucking the juices of animals and plants,
after piercing them with their beaks. This
piercing when applied to mortals is not
always agreeable. Most bugs have both
wing covers and wings, but the domestic
kinds have neither.
Bugs like other insects undergo three
changes, but retain nearly the same form
throughout. They are compelled repeat
eddy to throw off their skins in the process
of growing, but the young half.grown and
mature are all identical and live in the
same way. This transformation consists
simply in the gradual development of
their wing. covers and wings. There are
two groups of bugs distinguished from
each other by the structure of their wing
covers. The first group live on both ami
NAL and vegetable juices, while all includ-
ed in the second group live on vegetable
Juices alone The first division includes
squash bugs, bed bugs, fruit bugs, water
bugs, water boatmen and others that
might be named. Ninety-five native
species have been placed in the catalogue
of Massachusetts insects alone. Still a
description of more than two or three
species would not interest the general
reader.
The squash bug is too famiar 10 every one
who cultivates the garden. We wish to
know less ofhim, and still we desire 10 know
more that we may wage an eternal war
with him. This is kind that hibernates.
If it were not for this fact, we could have
some hope of DISCRIMINATING the race. We
are obliged to allow them TO feed upon our
squashes during the summer until the last
of October, and then we could starve them
to death if Providence was not on their
side! As it is, they are too much for us,
for rs soon as they desert the plants, they
90 straight into the crevces Of walls and
fences, and other places of security, where
they pass the winter in Il torpid state. The
warm weather in the spring wakes them
up Just in time for full preparation to
renew their campaign upon the new crop
of squashes which the hopeful gardner has
planted. When the vines Of the squash
have put forth a few leaves, these bugs
have meeting under their shelter, pair
off and Immediately begin to lay their
eggs. 1t is now the last of June or the
first of July. The bugs conceal themselves
in the ground or on the stems of the vines
during the daytime. But during the night
they come up beneath the leaves and lay
their eggs in little patches. Soon the eggs
are Matched and the young bugs begin to
show signs of activity and commence their
depredations. As they grow older, they
increase in size, shed their coats a few
times, and get into working order. At first
they live in small families under the leaves
upon which they were hatched. They
have way of laying their eggs at differ
ent times and upon new crops OF leaves, SO
rs to make sure the perpetuty of then
race. Hence the young are found in vari-
Gus stages of growth through the entire
summer. They all attain full size, with
wing covers and wings, by the last Of
October. Now he bug is about six-tenths
of an inch long His general appearance
is too well known to need description here.
But how shall we make war upon these
noxious insects? How can we prevent
their ravages? The answer is kGU them.
Kill them early before they have laid their
eggs, and often that none may escape. II
the old bugs have outwitted us and laid
their eggs before the killing then find and
smash these eggs. BY spending short
time every day in the early part of the
season in the garden we may save great
deal of trouble afterwards. If we neglect
them when they are raising recruits, they
will soon outnumber and overpower us
The ravages Of these bugs may be checked
! it is thought, by the application upon the
leaves Of plaster Of Paris and some othe,
substances, but no remedy is so good as
killing outright Such application fire.
qucntly do the plants more harm than they
do the dugs. But there is one idea worthy
of attention in this connection. Specia
fertalzing and culture will promote tic
vigOr and luXuriance of the vines ans
enable them to Withstand the attack of the
bugs. Whatever special remedies are tC
! be tried we should remember that "vigi
lance is the price of victory in this bug
war"