Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-19
METEOROLOGICAL.
THE WAYS AND CRUSADKS OF
THE INSECT PESTS.
Preparations for the War-TIe Peach
Moth-Peacfl Worm Other In
scots Mildew on Frat.

A thorough investigation WIN pe Hiau0 VI
such insect pests as are found in this State,
and their natural history learned as far as
possible. Although excellent remedies are
known at the present time, yet every eff
fort will be made to discover Others,
especially for summer use, that viii
be effective, and it is hoped at a
reduced cost TO those heretofore used,
and at the same time, be harmless to fruit
and foliage. Investigation will also be
made in relation to the disease of trees,
such as mildew, sap-disease, black knot
etc. In order to make this department
what is desired, the assistance is requested
of agrieuturists, horticulturists and
viticulturists throughout the Pacific
Coast, as follows: To furnish specimens of
injurious insects of any kind, or such as
are suspected of being injurious, together
with description of their fOod-plant, date
of appearance and Ach information as
may be known concerning their natural his
tory, etc.
Localities throughout the State where
insect pests are destructive to field, orchard
or vineyard crops, will be visited as far as
possible, when made known to this office.
Persons sending specimens should send
them in small boxes paper or wooden) in
preference to bottles, as in many cases the
specimens, especially of moths and clear
winged flies, are destroyed in bottles from
condensation of air, etc. Answers TO CORE
spondents will be given in the DAILY
RECoRD-UNIoN and WEEKLY UNION at
the earliest date possible after receipt of
specimens.
THE PEACH MoTH-NEw FLY, ETC.
George Woolsey, lone, Cal: The speci-
mems are received by express. The Larvae
boring in the terminal leaves of the peach
are certainly the Larvae of the peach moth
((An1rsid RaeatelLG), and | can only repeat
that picking off infested twigs, and de-
stroying them by burning is the only pres
ent known remedy, together with cutting
out infested branches from which the sap
(gum) is oozing from near the buds. |
should advise spraying the foliage and
fruit with the whale-oil soap and sulphur
solution, to prevent the females of the next
brood from depositing their eggs on the
peaches, and repeating the spraying in
eight or ten days BY adding one pound
of buhach to every ten gallons of the solu-
ton, it will destroy any Of the moths
around the tree. From the size of the
caterpillars at this date they are nearly
full grown in moderately warm weather
the second brood will appear before the lst
of May.
The flies you send belong to the order of
two-winged flies (Dtptera), and are not in
any way connected with the injury to the
peach trees. | find them numerous in the
cherry and apricot orchards at San Lorenzo.
These flies are rapacious, and live on other
species of flies; their Larvae live on the
roots of grass, etc. The larva which in
fest, the terminal leaves and buds of the
peach trees is possessed Of sixteen legs, and
is therefore the larva of an insect which
belongs to the order of scaly winged insects,
or Lepidoptera which includes butterflies
and moths. The Larvae of the two
winged flies, are generally fOotless mag
gots, and few of them, if any, feed upon
the foliage of trees or plants. Letters and
packages containing specimens of this
pest have been received from several per
sons, Therefore, in order that all may
avail themselves of this reply, | will state
the solution recommended is the same rs
for mildew, as follows: Ten pounds whale
oil soap, three and one-third pounds sal
phur, one pound concentrated lye- This
will make sixteen gallons of solution. (See
article on mildew, below
This is certainly dangerous pest, ana
every effort should be made to prevent its
spread.
William O. Callaghan, Pine, Cal: The
specimens OF peach buds You sent are in
tested by the Larvae of the peach moth "a.
knedteiLal The flies received from you are
the same as those mentioned in reply to
Mr.. Woolsey, of lone. The Larvae leave
the buds and 90 into rubbish on the ground,
or under loose ground, TO go through their
transformations. lhy address IS Sacra-
mentO.)
THE PEACH WORN.
mr. Willis, of this county, brought some
specimens of peach buds infested by larvae,
from the orchard of Mrs. Miller, near the
Lake House One specimen is the Larvae
of H. l.aeateNa, but the second is somewhat
different in appearance, although engaged
in the same mischievous work. 1t differs
from the former in having lis head and
cervical shield yellowish white, and the
piliferous spots more prominent. In size
and color of body, and in habits, it is sim
liar TO the larva Of A. EirseoteLI0, and is prob
ably variety of this species.
THE CARPENTER BE.
F. Fesenmayer, St Helena, Cal: As I
have not found the grape-root borer
(AqsfG poIi8tetontis) in this State, cannot
give you the date at which the perfect in
sect appears In the Southern States 1t is
found from June to September The spec
linens you send in the excavations of the
wood are very interesting. The perfect
insect in the excavations in one Of the
pieces is very fine specimen of the car
penter bee (XylOoopd), and in all probability
of the species P1glnicd. The roll of cotton
like material in the second piece is the
nest made by the female bee in which TO
deposit her eggs and store pollen for the
support of her young. In this material
find the cases which contain the pupae of
three individuals description Of the
habits of this insect may be of some III
terest. In the specimens Of the wood fur
nished there are three tunnels, one of them
extending the whole length of the wood,
inches, and was probably much longer, as
Tie NOOd ID Stncu Oli III one % Inc luNItiS
is found the perfect insect In another is a
roll of cottony-like material about two and
one-quarter inches long-the center tunnel |
being empty and running the whole length !
Of the section. The cottony like material, |
which is probably procured from cutting
the tunnel, Is divided into three sections of |
nearly three-quarters of an inch in length |
In each of these sections, which is con
structed one over the other, is placed a
quantity OF pollen, and in it the egg is de-
posted. When the young larva is Matched
it feeds upon the pollen, and when full
grown spins itself fine silken case of a
rich dark-brown color, and ovate in form
The specimens sent are about half an inch
in length and about five-sixteenths in
diameter.
The work done by the bee in excavating
these tunnels to 4 depth of many inches