Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1879-08-14
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insect was first noticed and made known
to The scientific world, by Thomas Say,
Naturalis, TO Mai Longs exploring ex-
petition to the Rocky Mountains. IT.
native locality Is IN the region of Pixies
Peak and the Black Hills, in tie State oil
Colorado. some so miles west of the
Mississippi River aud 1900 miles distant
from Maine.
To this insect, Mr.. Saw gave the scicn-
tiic name declm-iineata or the Ten
striped Spcarmau.
This apparently harmless beetle (for
il Is true beetle and not a buc) was
found feeding upon a species Of wild
potato (.SoIaaum Roaraiuul which
grows on the table lands Of the Rock,
Mountains. l; feeds upon any plant
which belongs to the potato family. such
a. tomato. horse -ncitie, hcnbanc. cgg
plant, and occasionally the onion it,
choice food j. the cultivated potato
(SolaHuE t4Jer0swa). Il has 4 decid-
Ell preference. for certain varieties.
choosing the Early Rose and the Pro
life. rather than the Peerless or the
Peach-blow.
" hen the frontier settlements march
eli up the Rocky Mountain slope. TAX
ing the potato wiki them, the insect
discovered this plant TO be congcnial 10
its taste, aud 10 furnish palaiable
nourisSmcni. and began 10 migrate
eastward, moving from potato fiela. 10
potato field. at the rate Of - miles.
year. It, rate OF !ocomo.ion. wa. SO
well established, that a. wears ago. il
was predicted, that unless helped
along" by the railroads, j, would no,
reach Maine, until 1880.
Its desirucjiyeness TO the potato crop
began 10 attract attention at OmAhs
Cts, Nebraska, in $50. AMI four wears
later, depiorable accounts Of lis rayacc..
came from Kansas and Iowa. Neither
river nor mountain arrests its progress.
nor are tie great lakes barriers 10 il.
advance: and true 10 time. thew have
invaded Maine In excessive numbers.
They will live and grow Fat, in any
cline or country. where The potato
can be grown. and are actively ugly.
even when The mercury is far down
below freezing. Severe winters snd
deep trosts, do not harm them y bit. nor
does il "a W bit disllease. As they can 20
deeper into the soil than Jack Frost
ever sank bis icy shafts. They have
been found alive and Kicking seven
feet under ground.
This insect has ihrce-some say four
stage Of existence, the pupa. or cgg
state, the lary1. or slug state. aud the
image. or perfect insect state. The
full grown insect il about The Size of a
half bean. The body j. dull yellow.
with ten dark stripes. The third and
fourth stripes. counting from the out.
side, are united behind II the second
and third stripes are united, and not the
third and fourth, it i Jogus. and not
q true bug.
The perfect beetle, as a DESTROYER Of
the potato and usually found on the
under side Of the leaf, need excite no
great alarm. Their life-work Is TO
breed, and not to feed. They are "ever-
lasting layers" producing eggs in
vast numbers, hence great pains should
be taken 10 HINT and Kill them.
Their average litter of eggs. is about
100, while & professional breeder will
lay 1900. Thus, single beetle, in a
single season, may become the p.ogeul.
tor of 6s,ooo.0o0 or nearly 1900 to
each hill in al acre Of potatoes. The
eggs are deposited in clusters Of from
20 TO 100, on the under side of Il leaf
which is exposed To the sun. and but
seldom, on one which is shaded, and
single litter Of eggs, may be deposited
81 over 8 ''ten-acre lot Occasionally
tie eggs are laid upon lettuce leaves,
and are poisonous II eaten. The fe-
male is about 80 days in laying her
stock OF eggs, so that when she has
done laying. the frs, eggs she hiss laid
are grown into insects.
The eggs, which are slightly glued to
the under side OF the leaves, are abou,
the size Of herds-grass seed. and are OF a
dull orange color.
In the larva. or slug state, they are
voracious eaters, feasting and gorging
themselves, yet, never cloy or safiate
their "devilish glut." They are of a dull
or dirty red color. with two lines Of
dark spots upon each side OF the body
The glattonoHs age covers a period Of
II to IS DAYS.
The three stages of existence, from
the egg TO the insect, are passed through
in aboni 30 days. and in 30 days from
the time an egg is laid, The insect from
it is grown up and begins to produce
another crop of eggs. Tins, is seen.
with what astonishing rapidity they
can multiply. In about six DAYS the
eggs hatch into siugs which feed on the
foliage of the potato, for IL days, then
60 into the ground, and in 10 to y DAYS
re-appear perfect insects, in seven DAYS
they pair, and in seven days more be
gin to lay.
Thus an insect Matched out, say on the
first day of June, will eat and deyour
for II DAYS. then go into the ground,
pass through the several transforms
lions, emerge, pair, lay, hatch and be.
gin 10 destroy on The 10Th of July
This insect is said to be three brood
ed, appearing the first of May. and dis
appearing the last of October: but in
its history, ''intermissions none / find,
Z. Z, IN III.