The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1880-05-20
INSECTS OF NAY.

during the period when the trees ar
lea6ess, they win now be found to hav,
Matched into q horde of ravenous larvs
whose ever increasing web may be read
lily and early distinguished, and shoult
be promptly cut of and the larvs be de
stroyed by burning or otherwise. Tn
rapidity Of growth and the insatiabl'
sppetites of a nestful of these catapillar
are matters Of establishment. If theil
destruction be neglected for q few days
the nest has growa to double size, and
the evidences Of their vorscity increased
in geometrical ratio. The destruction
is so easily accomplished while the nest,
are small and the catapillars closely
crowded together, that there is no ex'
cuse for the denudation of trees some
times noticed.
In combating this insect, - indeed il
the case with any insect having powers
Of migration, the Orchardist does moi
meet with the success deserved, unless
the neighboring fruit-growers are equal.
~ as careful with him. The orchard OF
slovenly farmer will be annually q
breeding ground for the restocking Of
the trees of his careful ncighbors.
The borers Of the apple-tree, both the
fiat head and the round head, pass their
final transformation during this and
next month. The round headed borer
energies from the cell in which its pupil
State has been passed, as q handsome
long-horned beetle, white beneath, and
coffee brown with two Longitudinal
white lines above. 1t is strictly noctur.
nal in its habits, and is rarely seen. The
perfect insect Of the hat-headed borer is
bronzy black or dark-col0red fat bee
tie, with the metallic colors brighter on
the under side of the body. This beetle,
unlike its associate just described, is q
day-flie, delights in the hottest sunshine
and may be seen basking ON the sunny
side of the trunk. To prevent these
beetles from depositing their eggs ON
the trunk, we may take advantage of
their known dislike of alkaline washes
and brush those portions of the tree La
bic to attack with strong soap-suds sew
cral times during the month, more fire.
quently If there be frequent rains.
Whitewash is doubtless efficacious to a
certain degree. The larva Of the Saper-
da calcarafa that is so destructive to
the cottonwood in many portions of
the State, is congener with the
round-headed borer of the apple and
its habits are probably very similar.
The beetle is at least one-half larger,
and is of gray color, with irregular
yellowish brown markings.
The peach borer probably transforms,
to limited extent, during this month !;
and the trcss should be examined for
Larvae and pupa. The alkaline washes
that rcpcl the borers of the apple are
Intellectual against this insect and the
most generally practiced mode of pro-
tecting the trees is that properly known
rs 'worming" them, or cut ting into the
burrows and destroying them with the
knife. The use Of hot water is often
but, in using this means
care must be taken to have the gum and
dead bark cleaned away from the base
Of the tree. to allow the free entrance Of
The water into the burrows. The sys-
tenn Of mOunding the earth about the
trunk is as old as DR.. Fitch's first re-
port, and deserves more general trial
Than il has here received.
The first cOdling moths now appear,
having passed the winter in sheltered
situations as larve, and deposit their
Eggs in the young apples, for the spring
brood Of worms. They live in :he fruit
Tor about five weeks and then trans
'orm into a second brood of moths,
which in turn produce second or au-
umn brood of larva. No available pro-
cction aginst this moth seems to be
inown, except cntrapping the Larvae as
hey leave the apdles TO spin their CO.
'oons, prhvious to transformation. At
his period they will seek the shelter of
Gales Of bark and similar places Of re.
uge upon or near the tree. This habit
furnishes the method Of destroying the
srva, described by Prof. A. j. Cook, in
he weekly Tribune Of the 2lst Of April.
The following extract from his article
rill explain the method, which is by
them . spinning place by
means of bands placed around the trunk
4 the tree
"The bands should be wooden cloth or
arpet paper, about five inches wide,
nd long enough to reach around the
rec and lap efficiently to tack. First
lck one end of the band to the
rec, abou: four feet from the ground,
irving the tack clear to the head then
ass the band around the tree, bringing
he untacked end over the tack first
riven. Through this end q second
lck should be driven, though not quite
} the head, that it may be removed
ith Q claw. Seven weeks after the
ces bloom, the bsnds should be exam-
ed. 1t is well to 60 fret to the trees
hich bear early apples. Ifuo worms
cocoons are found, the examination
AZ be delayed tor ten days, when all
e bands should be carefully removed,
ID all the larvs and pups killed. This
easily done BY pressing them with
e thumb. After all are killed, retack
e band. This work should be repeat. |
every eighth or tenth day for seven
eight weeks, and again after all the
nit is gathered. in November and De-
mber."
The plum trees will be regularly visit
by the curculio; and close attention
the daily Earring Of the trees is nee
AIRY in order 10 secure crop Of this
lit. This operation must he per-
med daily. until the period when the
inns are sufficiently large and ms-
,cd to resist their stacks, which
ms TO be about July irt.
rhc unusual number Of Colorado po- -
o beetles observed already this spring
rtends an abundance Of them during =,