Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-10-14
PESTIFEEOUS INSECTS.
THE PESTS THAT ATTACK FREE, PaUT-.
GRAIH, VINE AND FLOWER,
to the Changers About-The Tan
gers to Orchard and Farm


9th, addressed the State Grange P. of Fl.
at Stockton on "Insect Pests The ad-
dress kept the profound attention OF the
Grange for ever an hour AID half, and for
it MIR. Cooke received the warmest thanks
of the Grange members. The following is
synopsis Of the very lengthy document, which
is replete with interest:
He began by referring to the neglect that
prevails of study on the science Of entomology,
and pointed out the usefulness and necessity
Of thorough understanding of it Co the
farmer and fruit-grower, and especially Of
microscopic study. He pointed out the
necessity of understanding fully tho habits,
growth, etc., of the army worm, the Hessian
fly, wire worm, cut worm, CRASH PIPER, cod
ling moth. scale insects, cav flies and borers,
as also OF the vine moth, phyiioxsra,
beetles, caterpillars, plant lice, ETC.. and also
of the animal infesting scale mite, bot, OK
fy. etc, He called attention to the los5 of
crops of grain and fruit from insect pests and
their destructive action upon plants and
domestic animals. Insect pest has become
a curse il California. Here are all the
conditions necessary to their prosperity
and increase, and to negligence the
spread of the evil is chiefly attributable, as
well as to the general ignorance Of the natural
history of insects aud lack Of knowledge as
to remedies to check their ravages, and con-
corning such ss are teaehcial and not desri-
mental to earth products. chronological in
formation is q necessity in this day to the
proper management of farm, orchard and
vineyard The dangers threatening from 10.
sect pests to laud products are greater than
any others. These dangers are not local, but
threaten every section of the State-rnoun.
tain, valley and coast alike. Kirby says in
sect life is a universal empire. The insects
injurious to crops in California he then
enumerated, The army worm is the larVa Of
a night flying moth. The eggs are laid near
the roots of perennial grasses, along the inner
base of the terminal blades, and ere
doubled and glued along the grooves in rows
OF from five to twenty; each female deposits
100 eggs, thai hatch in eight or ten
days, and the caterpillar reaches full growth
in about thirty days, when it descspds into
the earth three or f0ur inches and builds
cell, wherein it Lasses its metamorphoses.
These caterpillars be described, as also the
moth, as he had saen them near Sacramento
in corn, barley, turnips, alfalfa, etc., and
where to prevent their spread trenches were
dug for their capture. busting buhach on
them in the trenches proved very effective,
bub Tue DUEhiIS VI uEE sIEa" pE nay llGEO 20.
The habitat OF the army worm is IN grass in
low lands, from whence it goes to the high
lands alter q season fivorabie to it. Thus
nearly all great army worm years are wet
ones, with the preceding year unusually dry.
THE HEssIAN FLY
He had not seen in Sacramento, but had been
told of it's appearance. It is a question as to
whether it is indigenous to this country
1t first appeared in America in l776.
on Staten Island, at Flatbush. 10 1877
it was found west Of the Allegheny Mount
aims. Wheat, rye. barley and grass it attacks,
and in places it has forced the abandonment
of wheat growing. Il lays its eggs IL the
small creases of young wheat leaves. The
eggs are about 1-5O.h of an inch in length and
hatch 10 less than fifteen days. The maggot
produced IS IF pale red color, and craRls
down the leAf and works down between il
and the main stalk to point little below
tbs ground, where they become stationary
until their transformation takes place. They
are there nourished by the cap and thus
weaken and iDpoverish the plant. In forty
days maturity is reached. This pest produces
two brOods year-spring and autumn. 1t
Is not believed that it emigrates, but it stead.
lily spreads from the original point of intro
duction. It is not believed by DR.. Thomas
that it will reach the Pacific States, but that
statement may be hazardous. 1t has become
acc!imated in the upper st. Lawrence and in
the Mississippi valleys. It's spread westward
is very slow, but it has reached Kansas. Pre-
caution must be taken. however, in California,
to prevent lis importation.
THE WIRE WORM
Is the larva of the swapping beetle, skip-ia jack
beetle, etc. The larva remains in that state
about three Yeas. Wherever grasses will
grow the wire-worm may be found and they
abound in the roots of the coarsest serge
and other wild grasses on the borders of
Marshes and in the most delicate pastures.
They do great damage to crops, especially
corn, and feed on the roots of barley, cab
bage. wheat, potatoes, rye, asparagus, cur
rants, oass, etc., and on dahlias, pinks, car
nations, etc. Many remedies for the pest
have been given, most of them being inef-
fective. Hand. picking is effective, as also
the use of slices Of potatoes, apples. lettuce,
etc, as trsps. a half OF a potato with the
eyes cut out, covered with an inch OF loan,
catches the pest. DR.. Thomas advises the
application Of salt, lime, SCOT, ETC.. to the
soil. These applications, where effective,
were probably applied just before the great
mass OF the worms passed into the pupa
state. Rotation OF crops aud the growth Of
vegetables obnoxious to the pest are recon-
meHded by DIR. Thomas-as white mustard.
THE CUT WORM
Is a species that eat near the ground. When
full grown it desce1ds few inches below the
surfacs and makes an earthen cocoon, wherein
il passes through its transformation. The
moth or parent of the worm is Of dirgy
gray or brown, OF rather thick body, from
thres-quarters to one inch in length. The
shoulders are tuf.ed, aad the males hsve a
tuft on the last Gegmeat Of the abdomen.
The best remedy in gardens is to dig about
the plan! and destroy the larva. Clean cult.
walton and extra seed are the best remedies
Ten species Of the moth of the cut worm are
known in California,
CHRISTOPHER
Plague history is well known. The larva or
grub known as the large white grub of the
May beetle, June beetle, goldsmith beetle,
are found in several parts Of California. The
beetles feed on the leaves of fruit trees.
They fly and feed at night, and the damage
they do is often overlooked by those unac-
guainted with the history of the insect.
There are ten species of leaf-eatiug beetles
in California-two of the May beetles, two
of the silky-leaf chafers THE rose bug) four OF
viue-chafers and two OF June bugs. Place
a sheet on the ground after dark, shake the
tree, and the beetles will fall on the white
cloth and may be gathered and destroyed. Ia
fields apply the came remedies as foE the wire
worm.
THE STORE. ROOM
And EraGary ID next considered. Here Is
found the waeat weevil, well-known pest
that devours stored grain. The eggs are
deposited after the storage of the grail. On
hstching, the grub burrows in the wheat and
deyours it. Kiln-drying and ventilation aud
occasional moving CT the graia are recon-
mended. Buhacn can be used very effect
lively. GTapsries should be thoroughly
cleaned and whitewashed with wash havirg
II it some kerosene, or spply the kerosene TO
all joints and cracks before whitewsshirg
lie said that in southern California In one
section, ct mill, when the weather is such
that the wheat heats before getting to the
Store rooms, within six weeks from the time
it is cut the weevil appears.
THE HORSE BOT FLY
Deposits its eggs on the inner part of the
knees and shoulder. The bite causes the
horse to lick the spot, and SO the eggs eutsr
the mouth and thence 20 to tina stomach.
where the larva hatch and fassen on the lining
OF the stomach. Ten species are known here,
two of which attack the horse. One snscies
attacks horned Cattle by piercing the SKIN
and depositing the egg. When cattle ara az.
tached they rush Tor the nearest water. with
hesds and uecks extended. The b4zziuy az
the insect tarriiss the cattle. AMI it ia said IL
renders them uamsuageable.
SHEEP
Pests he next considered. And frss he treat
ed OF scab. 1. is caused by snail mite
called the seals mite, and at one time known
as sheep Itch" Il ID easily distinguished
from the itch mite Of man, rs il has only
y i - r -