Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-06-14
CHRONOLOGICAL.
Answers &c Correspondents Concerning
Injurious Insects.


A. C. Fleming, of Lincoln, Placer county,
writes:
See the tomato blossom inclosed. and note dis
ease on stem, about one-quarter OF an inch from
blossom. The vines are healthy and OF large
growth but every tomato drops off before they
are as large as peas, etc.
Reply The specimens of tomato plants
and blossoms at hand are withered. How
ever, the disease you refer to is mildew
{fungus). am not prepared to say whether
the mildew is caused By climatic influences
or is the effect of the punctures of plant
ice, which are numerous on the speci-
mems at hand BY busting with sulphur
the spread of the fungus may be prevented
on those vines not at present infested; and
by adding one pound of buhach to ten
pounds of sulphur, the plant lice will be
destroyed.
MILpEw ON APPLE FOLIAGE.
William E. Linn, of Alta, Placer county,
writes:
send you for examination some apple tree
leaves Please answer i'll RECORD-UNIoE, and
tell me what is the matter with them.
Reply: The leaves that you send are in
Tested by Inildew (fungus). This species is
prevalent in great many apple orchards
this season.
Remedy: Spray the fruit and foliage
thoroughly with u solution as follows: Ten
pounds of whale-oil soap or strong home
made soft soap, three and one-half pounds
of sulphur and ten gallons of water. If
thoroughly applied on the infested foliage
it will prevent the spread of mildew and
destroy the fungus spores.
CURcULIo.
U. B. Sassaman, of Grafton, Yolo county,
writes
have found new bug, which forward by
mail. noticed a chicken, which IS about six
weeks old hopping around the yard apparently
in great distress. caught it, ana found this in
sect, having its bill or beak stuck in the flesh
between the eye and the angle of the mouth of
the chicken, and its legs around the chickens
bill so that it could not open its mouth. have
found several chickens dead within the past
few days, and could not tell what killed them.
Please let me know if you are acquainted with
this family of bugs, etc.
Reply-Description of the insect Length,
three fourths of an inch color, black, COW
cred with asby pile; head small, snout
elongated and slightly curved downwards,
antenne geniculated, inserted near the base
of the snOut; thorax oblong and conical in
form This insect belongs to the section of
the Ctirc,ttionidae known as the long shouted
curculioS, and, as near as | can judge, to
the genus Linus. The Larvae of this genus
feeds upon the roots of plants The per-
feet insects of this family generally feed
upon vegetable matter, grain, seeds etc.
II your surmiseS are correct as TO the
death of your chickens being caused by this
insect, it certainly is a new discovery III
economic entomology as regards the habits
of a species of curculionide being carniver-
Gus
IMPORTED FLEA BEETLES ON GRAPE VINES.
T. H. w. San Francisco-The beetles
you send are the imported grape flea beetle
tAdoriS ritiS). 1t is very destructive to the
foliage of the grape vine, and, excepting
the phylloxera, il has been more written of
in France than any other insect that in |
tests the grape vine
Remedy: On young, non-bearing vines, |
use one pound of Paris green mixed in |
twenty pounds of sulphur, and dust
through cloth. Or on bearing vines, one |
dust on them when feeding, and this will |
etfectually destroy all that it touches
GOBLIN MOTH
Webster Treat, of Oakshade Orchard re-
ports that he caught the first larva of the |
Goblin moth under the bands on his trees |
last week Those who have not applied |
the bands should do so at once, so as to
capture the early brood. The Larvae are
about two weeks later than last year in
commencing TO leave the fruit. Mr. Treat
has all the pear trees banded, and com
menced this morning June 9TH to examine
every band and this will be kept up every
seventh day throughout the season. He has
also men engaged in picking off any in
Tested fruit found on the trees. The work
done in insect warfare by the Oakshade
Fruit Company is thorough, and as an in
vestment pays large dividends.
CATERPILLARs ON THE HOP VINES
Recently it has been noticed that hop
vines planted in the vicinity where the
marShmallows (Mai1aces) grow are infested
by the caterpillars of the thistle butterfly
(PyTGn1eis cardui).
Description of the caterpillar Length. |
when full grown, nearly J inches color,
purplish brown, dotted with yellow; yell
low stripe along the back and on each side |
on each segment is a transverse row of vel
lowish spines tipped with black on the
third and fourth segments there are four
spines, and on the other segments there are
seven.
The caterpillar lives in a nest made of
silken threads in a folded leaf, or of two or
more leaves, and is destructive to the foil
age etc, of hop vines.
The butterfly Color, tawny or reddish l
brown above, with q tinge of rose color.
spotted with black and white; hind wings !
have row of five eye-lille spots near the =
outer margin; expanSe of wings Il inches
Specimens Of the caterpillarS received |
last week are now in :
L. s-s..