Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-13
THE INSECT PESTS.
Some of the Moth Species and their
Stages and HABITS.

A large insect, in the cffysalis state, a6ou
two inches in length AID of the Lepidaptert
division, was dug up few days since by Mr.
Plat, near DaviAville, and by G. III. Swingl
left at this Office for inspection. From tn
recent ravages that have been mad
upon vines and other vegetation in tina
vicinity by insect pests, it is but natural AMI
prudent to watch and study any new develop
| ment in the line of further arrivals which
may add to the present surplus of destruetiv,
insects, where a few years ago none were seen
and by the more sanguine not contemplated
From this desirable condition the fruit in
| terests of the State have within few year
! become SO jeopaTdized that everyone wht
would raise fruit, or prevent the orchards ant
vineyards which they now have from being
destroyed, should make up their minds to look
| the invading army of destructive pest:
| squarely in the face, and by studying ano
becoming acquainted with their modes Of
evolution and habits, be prepared to intelli.
gently and successfully carry on war oil
determination upon them.
The chrysalis left at this Office, and above
referred to, is decided and shown by Mat.
| thew Cooke. Chief Executive Horticultural
Officer, to be of the family of sphingeS, or
what are commonly called the hawk or hum
ming bird moth. There are a large number
of species under this division. The one in
hand is that of the Sphinr Carolinas, of Lin
neas, which in the moth state has body
about two inches in length, with spread OF
wings from three to four inches across. 1t is
of a gray or ash color, having five orange
colored spots, encircled with black upon each
side of the abdomen, with white spot at the
bosa 80 he IT. 10 seen t1vinp ahOnt
honeysuckles and other flowers, like the hum
ming bird, and hence it is frequently called
the humming- bird moth. Its flight is almost
equal in swiftness to that of the humming
bird, and it produces a similar noise with its
wings. It is harmless in its moth state, ex-
cept in laying its eggs for the coming genera.
ton of destructive larva or caterpillars. 1t
is a wondrous beauty when examined under
the lens. Its orange-celored spots and
the black circles about them show in
deep richness, while the covering of
the head and thorax., when brought
out, are richly dressed in a heavy covering of
velvet-like feathers of ashen gray, each par
ticle or hair of the texture of which, when
submitted to examination under the micro.
scope of one thousand to one power, is found
to really consist Of series of scales. These
scales when the moth is, touched come off
upon the finger like -four, but each particle
of which thus adhering is more or less fan
shaped, having on the outer or extreme end
from five to ten points or elongated teeth.
But for the habits of the insect while in the
caterpillar state, this might be regarded as an
extremely interesting addition to the insect
world, but it is known that each moth of the
sphinx family deposits from two hundred to
FIVE hundred eggs during the period of its
existence as perfect insect. These eggs are
generally laid upon the under side of the
leaves of the plants, shrubs or trees upon which
its kind feed during its larya or caterpillar
stage. The Sphin1 Carolina is said by Pack
ard to feed principally upon the tomato or
tobacco, and hence no danger need be appre-
hended by fruit and vine-growers by the spe-
cies, of which MIR. Platt has furnished a
specimen. 1t is, in fact, the chrysalis or
pupa of what is commonly known as the to-
mato or tobacco worm.
This moth, however, is species of the
same family (Sphinges) as that which, in the
much trouble in the vineyard of
Mr.. Briggs. near Davisville, and which has
necessitated the employment of $50 men to
exterminate it. The species which appeared
there is the Sphinr craator of Cramer and
Hubner, and Philampelus dcbem0n of Drury.
The name Phldmpelus is given to this moth
from the fact that the literal Specification of
the term is " l love the vine" 1t feeds
nearly exclusively upon the foliage Of various
kinds of vines, such as grape. honeysuckle, etc.
In appearance this moth differs largely from
the Sphinr Ca1olinas. The wings expand from
four to six inches, is of reddish ash-coior,
with two triangular patches of deep brown
on the thorax and two square ones on each
fore wing. The hind wings are pink, with
red spots near the middle, and broad ash.
colored border behind. The body and ground
color of the wings is an olive-gray. The ra-
paciousness of the caterpillar of this moth
was quite correctly ascertained or developed
at Davisville, where full-sized leaf of the
grapevine placed before it was entirely de-
voured in FIVE minutes, and it was not the
time of day for full meal either.
1t is believed that this species principally
has thus far been at work in the vineyards in
the vicinity of Davisville, but there is still
another kind of sphinx caterpillar, which is
far more destructive in vineyards than the
above. It is much smaller in size, and far
more numerous, and is not content with eat
ing the leaves alone, but in its progress from
leaf to leaf down the stem, stops at every
cluster of fruit and eats off the stems of the
half grown grapes, and thus covers the ground
and strips the vines of the growing fruit,
which it does not touch after it has fallen.
These caterpillars are naked and feshy, gen.
d
brown, with row of orange-colored spots on
the top of the back, six or seven oblique
darker green or brown lines on each side, and
short spine or horn on the rear extremity. The
head is very small The fourth and fifth seq
ments of the body are large and swollen,
while the three anterior segments taper abb
ruptly to the head. From the fact that the
forepart of the body presents resemblance
to the head and snout of a hog, the generical
name of CtGTo-campd, or hog-caterpillar, has
been applied to this species. When it makes
its appearance it is found on the vine and
creepers in June and July, and, when fully
grown, conceals itself under the fallen leaves,
which it draws together into kind of cocoon
with few threads which it spins for this
purpose. Sometimes instead of using leaves
it covers itself with particles of earth and
light material, which il forms into frail pro-
lection for itself during the few months while
it hes in transition to the chrysalis state, to
finally appear in full wing the following year,
in May or June. Whether this last species
is among those which have recently made
their advent in Yolo county, and q few of
which are mentioned in Los Angeles county,
is not definitely known, as their appearance is
so recent that those who have come in con.
tact with them have been engaged in study
ing the arts of war to be made upon them for
their determination, rather than resolving
them into generical classification.
There are several other species of the
sphynx moths, which are similar in habits
and which derive their name from the pecu.
liar position in which the larva or caterpillar
often rests or holds itself. Having satisfied
its appetite, it quite generally fixes itself
firmly on twig or leaf by its hind feet, and
then lifts up the front portion of the body,
and thus remains perfectly motionless for
hours In this position it has been imagined
by entomolosists to resemble the Egyptian
Sphynx, and hence their name, although there
are many links missing in tracing their
origin to this ancient curiosity. 1t is claimed
that the remaining so long in one position is
done to prevent being noticed and gobbled up
by birds or attacked by ichneumon flies,
which are ever on the look out for everything
that moves. Another interesting popularity
in this order of insects is that in the larva or
caterpillar state the several species feed upon
the foliage of vines, shrubs and vegetable
products, which they eat with strong niasti-
eating jaws, which open iaterally or sidewise,
whereas in the perfect, or moth state, they
subsist entirely upon honey or nectar which
they obtain by suction through their long
tongues, as they are called, which in the
species above spoken of are twice the
length of the body, and when not In
use are rolled or eoiled up like
watch spring and covered from view by
brush-like appendage extending from each
side of the mouth. They fly but little by
H. ttxa