Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-07-10
THE ARMY WORM.
It's Appearance, Habits and Means for Its
Suppression, as Suggested by Matthew

| Its Appearance, Habits and Means Tor AIs
Suppression, as Suggested by Matthew
Cooke.
Reports have been received that thearmy
worm had made their presence known III
immense numbers at Chico, lone, New
castle and Pen1yn Specimens forwarded
last week by C. NJ. Gray, of Chico, escaped
from the package previous to its receipt.
To-day July Sth) Mr.. Smith, at W. r.
Strong & Co.'S, gave me some specimens
of the caterpillars received in fruit pack
aces These caterpillars are similar to
those which appeared at Sutterville, near
Sacramento, about four years ago. Profess
sor C. " Riley, in his Second Missouri
Reports, writes of the army worm:
The Larvae vary but little in appearance
from the time they hatch until they are
full grown. Some specimens are a shade
darker than Others but on many thou
sands examined ! have found the markings
very uniform. Description of the caterpillar:
General color dingy black, with the piliferous
spots placed in the normal position, but scarce
ly visible, though the soft hairs arising from
them are easily seen with lens Four lateral
(side) light lines of almost equal thickness, and
at about equal distance from each other, the two
uppermost white, the two lowermost yellow; a
obsolete in the middle of segment and always
almost distinct at the divisions, jet-black line
Immediately above the first lateral white line;
the dorSum (back) near is thickly notified with
dull yellow, but becoming darker as it ap-
proaches the fine dorSal white line, along each
side of which il is perfectly black. Space be-
tween the lateral lines and ., dull yellow, the
white lines being relieved by darker edge;
that between lines > and g. almost black, being
but slightly mottled along the middle; that be-
tween 3 and A. yellow, mottled with pink brown
and appearing lighter than between / and 2.
Venter belly, greenish, notified and speckled
with neustral color, especially near the edge of
the fourth lateral line. Legs CLASSY, and of the
same color as venter those on thoracic segments
with black claws, those on the abdomen with
large shining black spot on the outside.
The specimens given to me by Mr.. Smith
agree in all prominent characters with the
above description.
The Moth-The forewings are reddish
brown, and the hind wings are a dark
smoky color. Its technical name is Leu
canid URipUReta; the specific name { Uni
ptyaetd) is given from small white spot on
each foreWlng.
HABITS OF THE CATERPILLAR.
Full-grown catcrpillars measure about
one and one-half inches in length. From
the time the young caterpillar is Matched,
until it is ready to enter the pupa state, is
about thirty days. They commence march
ing when about two-thirds grown, and
move with rapid motion. These caterpil-
lars vary in their habits; sometimes they
act as cut-wOrms, at others they march in
armies Generally they avoid the hot sun,
preferring to feed at night, or on cloudy
days, and when not feeding hide under
clods and rubbish. From the reports given
of them by Professors Riley, Thomas,
etc, it is known that they prefer
cool weather, and are more abundant
in damp seasons than in hot, dry years.
They cannot bear hot sun. | noticed an
army of them trying to cross the Riverside
road on warm afternoon. AT first less
than one-half succeeded, and finally they
gave up attempting until sunset, when they
took up their march again. When full
grown they enter the ground, and form a
cell by movements of the body and the ex-
cretion of a sticky fluid. Some entomol-
ogists claim that they are double brooded
in localities south of 3S degrees north lati-
tude Professor Thomas thinks that they
are double-brooded on the Ohio river, at
about 40 degrees The latitude of Sacra-
mento is between 3S and 80 degrees.
REMEDIES.
The caterpillars may be stopped entering
a field by ditching the side of the ditch
sloped under TO prevent the worms from
climbing up. The ditch should be about
twelve inches wide and the same in depth.
Every twelve feet there should be few
spadefuls taken from bottom of the ditch,
making hole in which the worms would
gather. In the ditch they may be killed
by placing straw in it and burning, or by
spraying with coal oil however, many
plans can be devised for killing them when
in the ditch.
Where fruit trees or grapevines are in
tested, by spraying with the soap solution
of one pound to one gallon of water, to
which add one pound of buhach, it will
etfeCtually destroy them.
Notice should be taken by persons in in
tested localities at what time they enter the
ground and where. Such data will be use
full for future reference.
BY placing bands of heavy paper at or
near the ground, and paint with coal tar
mixed with little castor oil, it will pre-
vent caterpillars from climbing the tree, so
long as it is kept moist. Care should be
taken that the tar does not get on the bark