Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-24
THE EVENING STAR.
LOCAL NEWS.
The Caterpillar Nuisance.
..JGNE n. 1881.

Inc Caterpillar nuisance
HOW TO SUPPRESS Tr-NPORrANr su69esr,oSs
FRoM PROF. RILEY.
Editor Srar:-In the public interest you have
already drawn attention to the numerous cater.
Ifliar nests that are now disfguring the shade
trees 10 most parts OF the city These trees
are mafked and beautiful feature OF WASH
L Rte q, and our parking commissioners cannot
properly care for them and protect them from
injury. In this good work they should pe aided
US al puoiic spirited citizens l have thought
there fore. that few suggestions 10 references
to this caterpillar nuisance would be timely and
might DO some good.
This webworm, known in chronological
tertor>, is one OF the most wide. spread and In.
furious insects IN the country, feeding as it
oOes, on all sorts or trees, ana occurring every-
where east OF the Rocky mountains. The parent
is white moth, more or less spotted with black
unlcn Issues In spring from the cocoon fn which
the chrysalis has hibernated, generally near or
just below, the surface OF the ground, but also
IN any other sheltered situation. The pale yel.
low eggs are late, to the number OF 800 and up-
ward, during the last days OF May and the
earlier part OF June, In this latitude. in one
hairs from the body of the female. Tney are
not easily noticed, and IL is useless TO attempt
tbelr destruction In general way. Immediately
upon matching, the young worms feed together
On tne parenchyma OF the leaf, leaving nothing
put the epidermis. AS they grow they sprea
lrom lear TO leaf. enclosing whole branc hes wi h
their web, and few q tempts are made TO
destroy them until they have resieres
themselves conspicuous, and ara nearIv
full grown as at the present time. AT this
stsge there Is no more available way OF de-
sOoyfng them than by pruning OF the infested
twigs and branches, care being taken TO suose
quently destroy the worms. wad OF cotton
or other material attached to the end OF a
long pole. saturated with kerosene or coal tar
ing them. But on all the smaller trees of the
City that can be readily reached with hand
pump there Is much simpler remedy, which
De uniformly employed y the commits
t1ce the first affected leaf or leaves can be de
tected during the first days of June before the
tree shows any disagreement III at such time
pillars have been noticed be sprinkled
with water In which London Purple
mas been mixed in proportion OF
ABOUT pound OF the purple to about 100 gal.
Ions OF water. the young worms will all be de
stIoyed thereby and no further disflgurement
OF the tree eIsue from them. A second appu-
cation about the middle Of june 10 the more
timite0 number OF worms that hatch from eggs
laid after the first application may also be de-
siraole: The purple can be got at wholesale
from hemingway Co.. New York, at from 6
to 10 cents pound, and few dollars worth
would answer for the trees Of the whole city. It
would pay the parking commission to have
special tank built and mounted On wheels for
this purpose, with force pump that might be
worked with two men. while third handles
the atom1zfpg nozzle through which the pol
soned spray should be applied. one of the sim.
plest and most satisfactory nozzles OF thIs
KIND is made by two conVerg1ng holes Sd
as they issue. Important improvements In the
mode OF atomiziDg will be published in the next
report OF the chronological Commits sion; but
IL is not necessary to Illustrate them Ia this
connection. A tank for poisoned water. such
as have indicated. would not only prove yalq-
acre 10 rrcrrv.IDg the trees from this particular
caterpillar, but from most Injurious insects
that attack them. as, e. O., the elm-leaf beetle,
the Department OF Agriculture and elsewhere
No better investment can be made by the au-
thorities.
For private gardens and parkings l would
recommend one OF the ordinary force-pumps
and the Nelson aquBpult will be found partlcu-
larry satisfactory. Yours, truly,
c. v. RILEY.
WlSuTNGT0N n Jupo % 1901