Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-16
INSECT WORLD.
LETTERS FROM CORRESPOND
ENTS AND REPLIES.
The White Lined Sphinx-The
False Chinch Bug-Woolly
Aphis and Remedies.
THE wHITE-LIHED SPHINX

4 moth received from Redding, Shasta
county, for Identification and its history, IS
the white-ijned sphinx (DeiIepEIa lt,1catG).
1t is a very common insect in this State.
and in the States east of the Rocky Noun
tains, Mexico and Canada. 1t is generally
seen on the wing about twilight, although
it flies sometimes in the daytime. It is
often seen around honey-suc1Ies, and from
its darling flight and method of lowering
over flowers, il has received the popular
name of the hummins-bird moth. In
common with the other sphinx moths, its
fight is rapid and powerful, therefore diff
cult to capture, without destroying the
scales of the wings and body.
The caterpillar Of this moth feeds upon
the foliage of the grapevine to some ex-
tent 1t Is especially fond of young vines,
| but il is also found on the allleria, purs-
| lane and other field and garden produce,
as well as on the foliage OF the apple tree.
| The caterpillar is a ycllOwish green color.
with subdorsal row Of large brown or red
| spots; also dark spots around the spiraCles.
! When fIIll-gr0wn it measures three 20 three
i pupate. Only in q few cases in young vine
yards have they been noticed in such num-
| bers as to be destructive,
| Last year the number of those moths cap
! tuTed in the globes Of the electric lights. at
an elevation of one hundred ana fifty feet.
| in Los Angeles, was really immense. In
some cases they filled the globes until they
| put out the lights. The moth has an ex-
! panse of wings OF three and halt inches,
and is readily detected by the white line on
| the fore wings. extending from the base
| along the center OF the wing to the apex.
| FUNGUS GROWTH.
The rose leaves received having a rusty
| appearance. are infested by a species OF
| fungus, which is very destructive to The
| foliage Of the bush attacked. As soon As
the small orange-ye!low particles are seen
On the leaves, if the brush and foliage is
| sprayed with a solution as follows it will
! prevent its spread Water, one gallon and
quarter Give quarts; soft soap, three
quarters Of pound; sulphur, quarter OF d
! pound. Boil together and apply in 9
| spray
wooLLY AFHIe.
Il. A. Mount, Juniper ranch, Teha1na
| county: Early in the fall dig trench
around each tree infested by woGlly aphis,
until the roots are laid bare: in the trench
place several shovelfuls of fresh unslacked
| lime. and mix with some wood ashes il
convenient. Pour OH this two or three
buckettuls of water; then cover with
earth This will be carried down with the
winter rains, and destroy the lice on the
roots In the season when the tree is dor
mant, wash or spray the parts infested
with concentrated lye or commercial pot
ash. one pound of either to each gallon Of
water used This, if thoroughly applied
will destroy any lice or eggs on the tree.
| In sumner lasten q piece of cloth on the
end of pole or short rod place some OF
| the best coal oil in bowl or pannii,in; with
the swab daub the clusters OF woody aphis
on the body and branches of the tree. This
viii destroy them without fail, but as new
broods appear. viii need to be repeated.