Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-31

Electric Light Company, writes
The electric lights in this city attract night.
myriads of moths, etc. Some days we collect Il
the globes several bushels of dead moths. TIT
horticulturists in this neighborhood are very
much interested in the matter and they thlnl
that in many localities the orchards. Yneyaru!
and gardens are largely protected from the IN
sects and worms that are propagated by them
Councilman Hamilton noticed the effects las
summer on his orchard, which Is situated neal
one OF the mast lights, and IN his opinion his
orchard was nearly relieved from the ravages o
the Goblin moth At the suggestion OF some o.
the horticulturists, | send you per mail q small
box of some of the species we ind dead. Many
of the smaller ones are so completely destroyed
that we find it difficult to save specimens II
might perhaps, be an interesting study to learn
if electric lights might be used with profit in
protecting orchards and vineyards from the raw
ages of insect pests.
Reply: The specimens received are very
interesting, as they represent some of the
most Injurious insects with which the cul-
tivators of the soil have to contend against
especially the vineyardists
First-The large gray moths are known
by the popular name of the tomato. worm
moth, and by the technical name NdcrosHa
Carolina Tor n. ) moculatal The caterpil-
lar of this moth is very destructive to the
tomato vine, and also TO the tobacco plant.
Second-Ghe large moths. with under
side of wings pinlish-red color, and basal
part Of upper side of hind wings a roseate
color. are known as the Achemon Sphinx,
or as the FtddmpetiS dcbem0n, the generic
name PhRLmpeiiS meaning " I love the
vine The caterpillar of this moth is very
destructive to the grape vine, for instance
The Crrgls,Aillor 1DnCDPpI in a ri ir,
the viCinityOf Sacramento about three wears
ago. The second year they appeared they
were destroying the foliage to such an ex-
tent thar $50 men, each armed with pair
OF scissors, were employed in the vineyard
examining the vines and cutting the cater
pillars IN two whenever found. The war
fare was Kept up for six weeks, and cfTectu-
ally cradicated the pests from the vineyard
Third-Thc large moths, with the white
stripe extending the entire length of the
forewjrg, are known as the whte-lined
sphinx. or as the Deilepiila }ineatA The
caterpillar of this moth is also destructive
to the foliage Of the grapevine.
Fourth-The smaller specimens repre-
sent two species of the cut-worm moths
Agr0fiS, and one species of -frctja, the moth
of the salt-mmsh caterpillar. The cater
pillars of these three species are destructive
moths received is not injurious, so far as I.
am aware
The capture of so many species of IN
furious insects Is those received from Los
AngeleS opens 4 field for interesting study
I expect 70 spend week in Los Angeles
about the middle of June, and Will then
complete investigations, in which I am at
present engaged, for the destruction of IL
furious insects by the use Of lights, etc.
CURcUMo ON PRIME TREES
Fl. GUpper, OF Santa Ana Los Angeles
county, writes:
Iseud You specimen Of a beetle which found
on prg1e tree. l know it is not the Eastern
plum Curcuio, but he looks a dangerous Gus
toner Ii II is a new pest please auSycV
Reply: The curculio are divided into
two scctions-namely. the Brnfros:res. or
short-snouted, and the Lo,agirostrrs, Or long
shouted. The specimen YOU send belongs
to the former and to a family known as
ear-snoU5ed curculios- Oti0ryacfide The
genus OphrfdSteS, to which this specimen
belongs, differs from others of this family
in the form Of the eyes, which are large,
and placed transversely or crosswise of the
head, and narrowed or pointed at their
lowest extremity, from which they receive
the name of narrow-eyed. All the species
of this family found on this coast.
so far, are injurious 10 trees or their
foliage, The plum curculio belongs TO the
second section or long-snouted. Il Is of
dark brown color, spotted with yellow.
white and black. The wing cases have two
humps near the center of the back, and be- |
hind these is a band of dull yellow and
white. Its length seldom exceeds one
quarter of an inch. (Sce plum curculio in |
this issue) Description of the specimen
you send; Color, dark-gray, with black |
'hicld-mark placed inversely on top of |
horaX; legs and under part of insect light |
gray; length (not including snoutl. five |
elthS of an inch.
CURCULIos on APPLE TREES.
DR. P G. Barrett, of Hood river, Oregon.
writes
As you requested, have selected few more !
pecimens of the C1rculi0nids found on my
lpple trees IN similar location and position rs
nose sent you before. The fragments
VI bark VIII serve to show you their habits IN
me piece are fine punctures close by bud,
where the Larvae were originally deposited.
The cuTculios were abundant, crawling on and
lying through the branches, etc.
Reply: Your letter containing the three
pieces Of bark at hand, also the bottle con
aiming the specimens. Excepting one
arva OF the curcuhO, all the lary;e were so
ar decayed that ] could not determine
hem. / could not find the louse-lille in /
ect you mention. 1t is interesting to learn
he history of this beetle Although species
# the germs have been found on cherry
rees, and also on the oak, l have not heard
Il its being found on the apple This
pcCieS probably belongs to the genus Nag
'R}is Of German. As it is new to me l can
rot determine the species at present Ii
hese CurculioS are on the trees in great |
numbers, whale-oil soap, ten pounds, and
Uhach, one pound, mixed in ten gallons
# water, and applied by spraying NJ sunset.
viii destroy the beetles. BY thoroughly
praying the trees early in the spring with
me pound of commercial potash to each
allon of water used, or ash I've as directed
n remedy ,, Injurious Insects these
eetles VIII not damage the bark.
PLUM CURCuLIo.
It was reported to me that this much
readcd pest was TO be found in the neigh
orhood Of Gilroy, Santa Clara county
wo weeks ago. IN company with Mr.. HOr-
&c Wilson. / visited several plum orchards
. that vicinity, but could not find any in ;
icatious of the presence of the pest. For ! ;
le information of those who are not ac-
tainted with the appearance and habits of I
le plum curculio, the following dcScrip- {
ons and illustrations are given Pig l.
rva or grub: liz. ,. pupa; fig. 3, perfect {
Isect- The illustrations are enlarged. but )
ie lines alongside of the illustrations indi- Y
lte the natural length I
This l. tat most destructive beetle I
lat the truit-growerS east of the Rocky =
fountains have to contend with in MANY (
'ctions of the country plum-growing Is l
OF profitable rs a consequence of its pres /
ice. They usually appear in May; the /
male makes a minute cut in the skin of 9
Ie plum or peach, apricot, ncctarine. etc, I
I'd enlargcS it sufficient for the reception
the egg, which She places in the opening 5
nd thrust> it 10 the bottom of the hole /
it'll her shout, and then cuts a crescent q
le opening on one side of the orifice. II q
from the habit of making this crescent :
&c mark that this pest received the popu- 0
r name of the Little Turk. Each Il
male deposits from 80 TO 100 eggs. The h
GfEEssTESgSY4 ;