The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1884-06-08
Insects in Florida.

Of Entomology, United States Depart
ment of Agriculture, from which we give
the following extract, interesting to our
fruit-growers. We will make other ref
erences to this valuable work as we have
space to do so;
ORANGE RUST MITE, MEALY BUG, AND
TAP-ROOT DISEASE.
Having business near Orange Lake du-
ring the past week, visited several or
ange groves. I found all the Florida
varieties of scale insects in abundance.
Oranges are already rusty, and the gust
mite in many places, on both leaves and
fruit, in such large numbers as to give
distinct coloration, distinguishable at a
distance of ten feet.
But the most destructive insect at
present absorbing all the attention of the
Orange-growers there, is the mealy bug,
Dactylopius destructor, This insect eau
ses the fruit to rot under the colonies.
A favorite place Of Judgement is at the
stem, under the calyx; the result is, the
fruit drops.
5000
proved effective, but Iaborious, and the
insects falling to the ground were not
killed.
Experiments with solution of murvite,
made under microscope, showed that
in all cases where the solution came in
to actual contact with the skin of the in
sect the bug was instantly killed. Act
ing upon this and the knowledge gained
by previous observation and experiment,
tried the effect of fine, solid stream
issuing under pressure, using a solution
Of murvite, one part to water two hun
bred and fifty parts. The results were
excellent the solution being forced into
the colonies broke them up, and coming
into contact with the insects killed them,
the method of working being one man at
the pump, another to guide the stream.
The apparatus improvised being badly
adapted to the purpose is very awkward.
The work, although about four times as
fast as with the bellows atomizer, is not
adequate tOthe economical requirements.
This method has the merit of no loss by
damage to fruit or leaves by the material
used; the waste, falling on the leaves
and branches, will exterminate both
scale insects and rust mites, these being
plentiful, but neglected in the presence
of the more pressing necessity Of saving
the growing crop from destruction by
the mealy bug.
Business required my presence at home,
50 | was obliged to leave. AS | can do
50, | will try to fit up an apparatus adap-
ted to this work. Having none of the
insects here, or, as far as [ know, nearer
than the lake, twenty miles distant, l
cannot make any experiments at home as
l would like to do.
At Micanopy found several large
trees dying slowly from some unseen
cause. Some time ago l induced one
person to dig under the lateral roots and
examine the tap root Of tree in SINH
lar condition; result bark of tap root not
all rotten. l was not present to examine
it. The tree being large and yielding
well, the owners generally prefer to take
the chance Of recovery to any act that
may expose the roots and increase the
damage; but the matter is important and
statements are cOnfused; some say that
a white worm causes it; others, white
ants; others, wood lice. | have found
trees damaged by each of them, but they
differ from the case at Micanopy. l
have heard of its being serious az other
places.
Can you advise me of the best means
of proceeding, what to look for, and
how to look for it, so that if have OPP
portunity may intelIigently search into
the matter?-TJos. VOYLE, Gainesville,
Fla, June -, 1885,
This disease of the larger is supposed
by Mr.. Hubbard and others to be caused
by the tap-root reaching water and de-
caying in consequence.
PARA ATERRINIA INJURING STRAWBERRIES
l sent you some larvae of the straw
berry crown-borer in a potato this morn
ing. l have a few more now and will
send them the same way. except l will
inclose some damp soil with them. |
thing they do not eat now, for I find
them in little cavity in the earth, not
far from the surface. l have been ac-
quainted with this pest for ten years, and
Ireceive plants from all parts of the
country that have been injured by it.
The injury it does by boring into the
crown is as nothing compared with what
it does to the roots, eating off the barb
and fine roots. Soon after abe roots are
injured the leaves get rusty and finally
die The inner leaves loose their glossy
and healthy appearance. Where there
are plenty they will injure the roots Of
young runners almost as fast as new
PANS are formed. 1t is common to fine
alunAer with four or five plants, the
oldest of which will have its roots ruined