Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-06-30
For the Freeman.
\ Chat with Farmers.
ny AGRICOLA,
ABOUT NONIOUS INSECTS.

The class of moths called agerians are
easily recognized in their winged state by
their resemblance to bees, hornets or
wasps. They have narrow wings, which
are mostly transparent, and kind of
brush at the end of the body. which they
can spread like a fan. They always fly in
the daytime, and frequently alight to bask
in the sunshine.
The habits of the caterpillar of this
species are peculiar. Instead of feeding
on the leaves and fruit, they are concealed
within the stems and roots Of the plant,
and live upon tho wood and pith. Hence
they are called borers. This name applies
to some other insects us well. These cat
crpillars are white, soft and downy. They
have sixteen feet, but have no prominence
ON the last segment of the body. Their
preparation for transformation to the
thrysalis state is peculiar. Instead of
penetrating the ground, they enclose
themselves in an obong, oval cocoon
made of wood or bark, cementcd by II
gummy substance. And when the chrysa-
lis is again changed, it works itself out OF
its environment and the moth escapes into
the air.
These borers make fearful havoc upon
ash trees by perforatng the bark and SAP
wood of the trunk from the roots upward
They also attack the branches. They as
sumo the chrysalis form in the month o.
June, and within two months they have
left their shells in winged state. Theil
color is brown, with some shades of yellow
on different parts of the body and limbs
The hind wings are transparent, but thu
fore wings are opaq'e, except II smal
space near the tips. These wings expanl
only about an inch and a h If.
From the 10th of July to the middle o
August winged insect distinguished b.
its orange colored body, spotted witt
black, may be seen flying about the squas
vines in the garden. 1t is there to deposi
its eggs near the roots of these vines, il
preparation for another generation @
noxious insects, for the ensuing year. Th
worm from which it was born has alread
done its destructive work. The vines hav
suddenly died completely down to tn
root, in consequence Of the operations c
this little borer. 1t began near the grounC
perforated the stem and dcvourcd the int
ror. When it had done eating, it entere
the soil. formed II cocoon, changed to
CIl SdllS, anu VII II ltW NCcho DcloIc
laid its eggs, it came forth moth. So
passes the round OF evolution from yea
TO year and perpetrates the curse.
Another class of pernicious borers OF
crates upon peach trees. The eggs froi
which they are Matched are Ieposite
during the summer upon the trunk of Il
tree near the root. The borers penetra
the bark and devour the sap wood. The
continue these deprcdations for nearly
year before they escape from their cocoon
and are transformed into chrysalids. Til
is done under the bark of the trunk
root, or in the earth. From this chrysal
comes forth the moth, whose missile
seems to be to lay eggs for another gen
ration of borers. The final transform
ton takes place from June to Octobe
Several broods are produced by succe
sion of matches, but only one rotation wit
in single year.
Borers of all sizes are found at the san
time on the tree, but all must pa
through one winter before they appear
winged state. Under the last form, IL
insect is slender, four winged mot
somewhat resembling wasp.
The male and female differ very mu
from each other, the male being mu
smaller and all its wings Transporter
Only the hind wings of the female a
transparent, but they expand half an in
more than the males wings.
This species of borer attack not on
the peach tree, but also the cherry trt
The injury done is much less when tn
locate in The branches than when they
tack the base of the tree, as will be reat