The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-12-14
Rneuniss l. Hs.se Plants.

q
Ito aphis. or green plant hce. Is
he ,eoat common of all the insects
Troublesome to stha lovers of house
giants. It Is . small. soft. oval,
green insects belonging to the division
Of insects called hemipsera, or true
''bugs." They obtain their living by
sucking the juices of the plants with
their beaks. The name aphis was de-
rived from Greek word signifying to
exhaust.
It is claimed that all trees, shrubs
and plants have their own peculiar
species of aphis, and that "a single
aphis in the course of five generations
may become the progenitor of six
thousand millions of descendant" II
is not the individual, but their collective
damage that is so consequential. They
will not leave leaf or twig where they
have congregated, until it will no
longer furnish sufficient supply Of
food. The tender leaves and twigs are
often completely covered with aphedis,
which are wingless and consist of the
smaller type Of females and the young.
At certain seasons of the year, usually
in the fall and occasionally in the
spring, aphedis having wings are noticed.
These are the winged males and the
larger type of females. There is also 5
bright yellow aphis found on house
plants, but not very common.
One of the peculiarities of these in
scots are the two honey tubes near the
latter extremity of the body. From
these tubes a honey-like fluid constantly
exudes in little drops and is much
priced by ants. In summer ants may
frequently be observed running up and
down plants, gathering the honey dew
from the aphis.
The best remedy for the aphis is to-
bacco smoke. In a greenhouse or con-
servatory it is very easy of application.
Obtain some refuse tobacco stems from
3 cigar factory, or dry tobacco will
answer, and an old iron kettle. or some
thing large enough to hold shovelful
of good wood Goals. Place a large
handful of stems on the live Goals and
close the conservatory. There should
be stems enough used so that the con-
servatory will be completely filled with
q very dense cloud of tobacco smoke.
If this plan is followed once week nc
conservatory will ever be seriously
affected with aphedis.
The few plants that nearly everybody
tries to keep through the winter must
be covered with box, barrel, or even
an old quilt will answer, though not
very well, and the burning tobacco
showed under to remain some time. II
one application is not sufficientit should
be tried again. We have seen it stated
that if the plants are thoroughly washed
with strong tobacco water it answers
the same purpose, but have never test
ed this plan. Soapsuds has also been
recommended
Bark Lice.-When we look at those
little spots resembling injured or blist-
cred places on the bark of plants and
trees, We can hardly believe that they
are real living members of the animal
kingdom. But such they are, and
though apparently simple, little harm
less scales, they are ali the while suck
ing the very life from the tree, or more
surely from the plant on which they
are found. While young, they are very
minute, six-legged creatures, with the
power of moving about and spreading
themselves over leaves and branches.
They move about for short time, when
part of them become stationary, and
undergoing a partial transformation,
finally become stationary females COW
cred with scales. The remainder Of
the young are the males. They undergo a
complete transformation and in the per-
feet state appear with two wings, but
the beaks have disappeared, while the
females retain theirs, and by means of
which absorb the sap of the plants.
The scales under which the females live
serve as covering or shield for the
eggs, and after these are deposited the
females die. The eggs are Matched and
the young come forth to live through
the same round of life as their parents.
The house-plants that are most dis
turbed by these insects are the wax
plants, ivies, oleanders, and those OF
hard bark. Begonias also suffer very
frequently. These insects are difficult
to overcome. When plant is covered
with them, all that can be done is to
pick them off or wash the plant with
strong soapsuds. One time we cleaned
them from a red honey-suckle by paint.
ing all the branches where they were
with strong I've, while the sun was shin
ing brightly on the bush. But this is
too heroic treatment for house plants.
The meally bug is simply another spe-
cies of bark lice, and is covered with a
meally or cottony substance, from
which it receives its common name. 1t
can be easily destroyed by simply dust
ing dry sulphur on the plants. We
once tried burning sulphur in our con-
servatory for this insect, and as re-
suit turned every leaf perfectly black.
After long time most of the plants re-
covered We therefore would not adj
wise burning sulphur, although, like
many fictitious remedies, it is often sug.
gested.
The red spider is a very small, almost
microscopic insect of deep red color
1t is hardly what we might call true
insect, for it belongs to the arachnids.
Or spider group, having eight legs.
The arachnids are divided into three
suborders. In one of these-the AGAR
MIA or mites-we find the little red spi-
der. 1t is not indigenous to this coun-
try, but was imported from Europe and
has become naturalized. When young
it is pale yellow. but when mature deep
red. When the leaves of a plant are
badly infested, put the plants for few
days in dark, damp cellar, or else
wash thoroughly with water. Ii lit
tie soap be added to the water it will
be all the more effective. Water is the
natural enemy of the red spider, and it
can only flourish well in the dry, warm
atmosphere of living room, or in 8
hot, dry sunmer.-Alice b. Walton, tn
10 Ua State Register.