Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-23

Written by Matthew Cooke for the REooRr
CS1oN.l
THE TwIG OR BRANCH BURRowER
MesSrs. Ebel & Stehr, near Sacramento
The beetle you find boring in the aprico
branches is popularity known as the branch
and twig turnover. Cche scientific name
is PolyeaoH confertus.} One specimen o
this insect is in the glass you left at thi;
! Office. Three other specimens in glass ara
darkHng beetles (TeneGrio,side) and belong
to the genus Ups of that family, and are
not harmful.
| The branch and twig turnover can be
readily distinguished from other species OF
beetles found upon trees. They are eongate
in form; color pitchy or very dark brown
head prominent aud not covered by the
prothorax; the autenne are situated in
front OF the eyes, and the three outer Joints
are larger than the others, forming club
thOraX oval and not margined on the sides:
wing eases densely punctured and prom
inent at base, or in other words form q
square shoulder length from half an inch
to five-eighthS.
The place selected by the branch bur-
rover to commence operations is generally
in the axle of bud or small branch; the
burrows are made invariably downward,
causing the branches to break off by the
wind, or being filled with water by winter
rains causes the wood to decay. Hand
picking is the most reliable remedy, as
they can be easily captured when at work
Spraying the trees in the latter part of
April with any soap solution that is strong
and fetid will prevent the beetle from at
lacking the tree.
USE OF WHITEWAsH AND TAR.
F. A. Daniels, Lakeview, writes: "WilI
You tell me, please, if it is injurious or I'M
safe to the tree 10 whitewash it up as far as
the smallest imbs2 Some seem to think
1t Will injure the circulation. i $50. do Won
think an application of tar to the affected
places will dispose Of the woody aphis? %
Reply: l am in favor of keeping the
bark Of the tree perfectly clean; | ain not
prepared to say that the washing with lime
would in any way injure the bark, so as to
interfere with the circulation of the sap.
But would prefer, in using lime on the
bark OF the tree, to add say three fourths of
pound OF whale-oil soap. or good home
made soft soap to each gallon of the wash
used. This will prevent any attack from
the bark
To your second query, l would say that I
am opposed to the use of tar on trees, either
above or below the ground However,
there Is no doubt if you can cover a spot
with woolly aphis with tar, that il
will destr Y them so far as it touches, but
by applying good quality of coal oil with
a sTab TO an infested spot, it will destroy
them instantly, with less danger to the tree.
The danger from the use of tar or coal oil,
is that where applied all around the tree
there is danger Of girdling by the destruc-
ton of the bark to a depth that will in
clude the Cambrium layer, which is To-
Gated between the inner bark and sap-wood, J
and is popularity known as the seat of life |
of the tree.
APHIDEs AND FALSE CHIECH BCGs.
\. II. Alderman. Gait; The insects you
send are woolly apliis. See remedy in the |
WEEKLY UNION of 10Th instant.
W. H. Robinson, Stockton: The speci- |
mems are the false chinch bug Ny$ius de- |
'tructorl. This is the first instance reported |
Of their presence in rye and barley fields
+. /. Hawks, Rocklin: Specimens re-
3eived false chinch bug Use remedies |
to Mr.. Gould, of Davisville,
namely; Whale-oil Or soft soap, to 10 |
ons. This will effectnally destroy the pest,
f properly applied, and the cost viii be
nominal.
J. J. Morrison, Pine; The apricot branch
md foliage you send are infested by Apiis
plant lice. BY spraying the foliage with
. solution Of one pound of buhach in ten
,allons of water. it will destroy the lice A
ew pounds of whale oil or soft soap added
would make it still more effective
HEssIAN FLY or JOINT WORM
\ pest, supposed to be the Hessian fly,
las been found to be general throughout
he grain fields of MERGED county. A dis
'atch states that specimens Of growing
rain have been gathered from various
anches and all contained the pest, and
With very few exceptions worm was found
t every joint on the stalk The state
ncnt that worm was found at the joints
4 the stalks makes it quite probable that
he pest may be the joint worm, instead of
he Hessian fly. Specimens Of the pests
ave been sent for, and as soon as re-
eived, will be examined and the result
iyen.