Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-05-17


The object OF the RECoRD-UNIoN in es-
tablishing an chronological department
was TO report new discoveries in economic
entomology; to give reliable information
in reply to such inquiries as may be made
relating to injurious insects, and also to
have experiments made for the purpose of
discovering the best methods of destroying
insect pests of the field, orchard, vineyard,
etc. a series of experiments have been
completed, and the following results have
been obtained Tor summer use:
THE cASKER WORMS.
As noted in last weeks issue. trees in
tested by canker worms can be thoroughly
cleaned without injury to the foliage or
fruit by using Whale-oil soap, 10 pounds
water. II gallons buhach, pound. Or,
when the application is to be made on apple
or pear trees, Whale-oil soap, u pounds
sulphur . pounds; buhach, pound ;
water, 10 gallons. BY using the wash con-
tanning sulphur. it will effcctuaIly destroy
mildew and all fungi growths on the fruit
and foliage. Or, alcohol. / gallon; bu-
bach, 6pounds; water, 40 gallons will eff
fectually destroy canker worms, etc. in
testing the foliage of trees.
In all cases the mixtures with bUhaCh
should be applied as soon as prepared. Blu
bach is powder made from the flower of
PWethrum C1Aerurj8 E0liuR, and is grown
extensively on the farm of the Buhach
Manufacturing Company at Stockton. 1t
being vegetable producuun, 40 injury Will
be done to the tree, plant or shrub, or their
foliage, fruit, etc.
Experiments on red spiders viii be COM
pleted for the next week issue
ANOTHER INSECT on VINES.
J. y. Dillon, Of Woodland, writes
send you some specimens Of a new insect
discovered on my grapeyines. They are III com
fleet than the latter. 1 find them only on one
side of my vineyard, ON Tokay and Rose OF Peru.
Please report they are enemy or friend.
Reply: The specimens you send are en-
tireiv new to me Packard describes the
Al,terodes as follows: I" In Aluerodes both
sexes are winged and of similar form the
antenne are siX-iointed, with second joint
heightened; and in the fore wings, which
are spread out as in butterflies and moths
(Lepidoptern), there is single vein, the me-
dian The adult or perfect insect
of AIuerodes Vaporari1un is yeiiowish white.
with snow-whitc wings, and is about a
twenty-fifth of an inch in length.
The specimens you send are nearly iden
teal with the above, which have been
found in great numbers on house plants,
tomatoes, etc, and live upon the sap of
plants. The treatment recommended
above for vine hoppers will etfectually de-
stroy them
THE EFFECT OF SPRAYING.
James D. Rhoades, CORTLAND, Sacra-
mento county, writes
What do you call the specimens in bottle
Are they injurious 10 fruit trees? Sulphur does
not affect them. Also what per cent, If any,
of the scale insects on the branches sent are
I HON ~
the I've spray
Reply: The insects in the bottle are the
peach aphis, or peach plant-lice. Spraying
with one pound of buhach mixed with tif-
teen gallons of water will destroy them
without fail. l have examined the branches
very carefully, and have no hesitation in
saving that ninety-nine per cent. of the
scale insects are destroyed | only found
two living specimens on the six branches.
CATERPILLAR AND POTATO scAB.
LII Frost, of Susanville, writes, under
date of May 4th
I send box by mail containing caterpillars.
and would like to know what they are They
are found in rags wrapped around apple trees,
and evidently work nights, coming from the
ground | do not notice any damage done by
them. as our apple trees are not in bloom yet ;
but they are evidently numerous - eight or
ten are found in the morning under the rags on
each tree.
Mr.. Frost also wishes information as to
rauses of the scab. or roughened surface on
potatoes which he thinks Is caused by an
insect.
Reply The specimens you. send are
probably caterpillars of one of the owlet
moths (Lcacaiia pseHdarqwid). They have
not been known TO be injurious TO trees, as
they are generally reported to feed on grass,
and may be nocturnal in their habits
am not prepared to give definite an
swer as to the potato scab. do not think
il is caused BIZ an insect; but il Is probably
caused by some property of the earth in
which the potatoes are planted, or III the
manure.
MlLpEw, wooLLY APHIs AND PLANT BUG.
From John Reimers, Highland Springs,
Lake county
send You new shoot of Bartlett tree, one
year old. I have fifty young trees injected ike
this. Is il an insect:
Reply: The leaves YOU send are injured
by mildew Wash or spray them thor
oughly with solution consisting of ten
pounds of whale-oil soap, or soft soap made
from ash I've; three pounds OF sulphur and
fifteen gallons of water; repeat the wash
Ing OF sprd yin,5 III ten days. This Will pre-
vent the mildew from spreading.
From George NJ. Blake, of Pleasant Val
ley Solano county:
herewith inclose some woolly aphis taken
oFuv ample trees; your book tells me how 10 de
urov them in the fall of the year | wish you
10 inform me ii | can do anything 20 destroy
them at the present time, etc.
Reply If You can thoroughly saturate
the spots infested with a thick solution of
soft soap. or whale-oil soap, 30 that II will
reach the bodies OF the insects, II will de-
strOv them. The cottony covering on these
insects makes il difficult to reach them ex-
cepting by force-pump. The grease, on
reaching their bodies, covers the Splnacles
through which they breathe, and in this
manner destroys them. BY dipping rag
in coal oil and applying il 10 the infested
sDots it will also destroy them; bat care
should be taken not TO let 1t spread on the
bark of the tree.
VIII report results of experiments now
in progress rs soon rs completed
PLANT BUG.
W. II. Robinson, Stockton, in letter,
says:
send YOU to-day May 18th, specimens Of a
hing said 10 be devouring the leaf and fruit buds
of the pear completely destroying them Give
us instructions aS soon as possible what they
are. and how TO destroy them.
Reply: The specimens You send is the
dotted-legged plant bug (easchistus p,n'eflpeS).
This species are considered purely. vege-
table feeders, living on the sap of leaves,
etc. Some entomologists claim that they
are at times carnivorous, but at best II Is
only exceptional. Manipulating Is an eX-
celient remedy. The remedies gwen tor