Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-14
For the Freeman.
A Uhai with Farmers.
ABOUT SoxIous INSECTS.
By AGRICOLA.

81 AGhlNOLA.
ABOUT SoXIoUs INSECTS.
A small leaf hopper lives upon rose
bushes and does then very much injury,
II has a yeIlowi>h white body and white,
transparent wings and wing covers. Al
most any time in the summer swarms Of
these insects. large and small. are found
upon the leaves of the rose bnsh. They
live through the winter. il is supposed, in
a torpid STATE. under fallen leaves and rub.
hish on the surface Of the ground. Tsbac-
co smoke and whale oil soap in water are
said 10 be the best means Of destroying
hem.
Another species Of leaf hoppers "pitch
heir tents" upon the Windsor bean. es-
pecially in dry seasons and when cultivated
in light sill. Al first they are so small
and light colored that they will escape OBJ
servation. Blu, about The time the beans
are TO he gathered for the table, the rava.
ges of the insect are manifest, though they
are yet small and wingless. They rrs,h
maturity from the last of July 10 the middle
of August. but the mischief is all done be
fore this aud is irreparab-. The leaf
hnppers are equally rs active as The vine
hoppers, but they are ltrger, more slender
and more delicae. They are of n pale
green color, except the wings and wing
COVERS. which are trans parent and color
less. They too are supposed TO sleep during
the winter.
Plant lice differ entirely from the in
.ects which have been described, in APP.
pearance, formation and manner Of in
crease. Their bodies are oval and soft.
Some of these have wings and wing Gov
rrs, and some have not. Some have the
power Of leaping. but these are not rs pro-
life as other kinds Of plant lice. They
live In groups of dozen or more upon
the stems and leaves Of plants, upon whose
Juices they subsist
A new species Of jumping plant lice
appeared in Connecticut and Ma>sachu
sets in the year 1858, upon the pear tree.
Under their ravages th,se trees Withheld
and died They live by snct on, imbibing
the sap of the Nv gs and branches which
they have punrtured These sap suckers
are attended ty swarms Of flies and ants
who have come 10 share their plundei
without sharing their guilt. Young tre'
suffer the most from the attacks of these
insects, but old trees do not escape without
injury.
These plant lice when mature "srt
about one tenth Of an inch long from III.
forehead to the tips OF the closed wings
The front of the head is notcbed in thu
middle. The eyes are large and pronli
nent. The head and thorax are n brownist
orange and the hind body gree ish. Their
! four ample wings are colorless snC
trans parent, and are marked with few
dark veins. The BODY Of the female i:
pointed NJ the end and inclines to reddish
hue" The European SPECIES differ some
what from the American in color anC
habits, Int they are equally destructive
One author Suggests, MS means Of GET
! ting rid OF these PESTS, brushing them OF
from tie tree and killing them with lh'
foot His method. AS far as practicable
must be sure, bu, it would prove too ted
dious and uncertain. Another metho,
recommended is to wash the twigs in
mixture Of strong soap suds and flour G
sulphur.
Another species arc called thrips. Bot
species have long and slender bodies an
narrow wings covered with fine hair whic
lie fatty on the hack when not in use
These can fy or leap, as il best suits thei
purpose. and they are very lively in a
their motions. They are found on leavei
flowers. buds and in the crrviccs of th
bark Of plants. but are very small an
often esca pc notice. Their punctu,es ar
poisonous and often produce drformlty il
he leaves and blossoms. Peach trees ais
suffer from their attacks, as well MS froI
those of the tree plant Ice, and they ma
be destroyed by the same means.
There is another pernicious insect niue
ike the last described, called the whes
fv. II finds It's way into the ears c
growing wheat and sucks out the juic,
Of the seed. A thorough coating of slack
ed lime will generally destroy the littI
+ pest.
Another species Of plant lice Gale
aphitieS are very peculiar. They live upu
: almost all plants and upon every part I
theni-the roots, stems. Shoots, buds I'D
leaves. They are very prolific, a. ii h;
been proved that one individual in fN
generations may become the father
5000 900 900 descendants. The plan
: sometimes become completely coated vii
3, living mass Of these lice in an meredith
. short pace of time. They are now win!
less. After they have done their mischi
and grown 10 maturity, The females !;
their eggs upon or near the leaf lud>, III
D all the parents die They are sure 10 siol
, the plant with eggs in the aurumn befu
they perish. These eggs are ha ched
: the spring. and the young. at once, beg
; heir ravages upon the lender leaves al
shoots. and grow fat upon them. In
5 hort time they come TO maturity. Til
d brood, it is found, consists entirely Of I
Il male and are wingless; bu: they are in
r condition Immediately 10 continue The
D kind. The young Of these are not hatc
h ed from eggs, but are produced sliy
n some fifteen or twenty in y single broo
4 in a single day. The next generation. ri
I 50 on to the seventh or more, are all
males. also ready 10 repeat this slrani
:, freak of nature.