Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-02-17
HABITS OF PLANTS AND INSECTS.
some of Their Notwithstanding on
New Manifestations Cases.

New nabus-Suriou- Shses'
We arc accustomed TO think OF the
habits of planrS and animals as fixed, the
aamc to-day nc they wero 90 or 1000
years ngo, and to remain tho eamc for
an indciiritc future. Such oupposition
n Incorrect, and can not be held by those
familiar with the lfc Histories OF plants
and animals. II l. Q common occurrence
for animals and plants to take ON new
habits--a change usually caused by o
change in the surroundings. In the case
Of animals, il is often brought about by
new TODD Scing presented, on which
they obtain moro congenial subsistence,
Iho common notion that nature provides
fol animals the food most congcnial to
them, finds hero o strong reputation.
Livery farmers boy has observed that
birds and rodents forsako their natural
food tor moro congcnial fruit or grain.
they may also have noticed the same
with insects.
Ono Of tho most marked instances Of
en- insect thriving ana rapidly multiply
ing on new food, is that of the potato
beetle confined to tho wild Solanums Of
Colorado, tho potato beetle increased
nlowlv and was scarcely known, even to
cntomologists. Tho insect was found
years ago by DR.. Say. who made jour.
ney across the Rocky mountains. and for
many years il was considered ono of the
rarcst OF our insects. when the cult
waited Solanum fthc potato) reached Cot
orado, the obscure beetle found moro
congenial food, and It multiplied amaz-
ingly. An instance nearer home Is that
of the apple maggot, which in many
parts Of the eastern states attacks the
apple in much the same manner rs tho
better known apple worm or codling
moth. Ihi5 insect has long been known
a. living on the wild thorn apples, but
about twenty years ago it suddenly at
tackled tho cultivated apples on Yer
mont farm. II spread rapidly, and Is
now widely distributed. 1t is probable
that the insect had never known the
superiority of the cultivated apple a. an
article OF food, until by chance some in
dividual stayed TO the orchard. From
that time new habit was taken on.
Another instance is that of the dreaded
buffalo grub" which attacks carpet
in tho eastern states. In Europe whence
this insect was introduced. it was never
known to attack carpets. In this case
VIC can not determine just why the insect
has taken on itS new habit. for carpets
arc probably no better articles of food
than clothes and leather, ON which the
insect feeds in Europe. There are per-
haps peculiar surroundings or parasites
which prevent it from attacking carpets
individuals reached this country carpet
may have been the first available food
presented, and the insect continued on
its new diet.
Plants often take on new habits when
they are transported TO foreign countries,
or disturbed by cultivation. The common
snowy wild touch-me-not, introduced
INTO England, produces only hidden or
cleistogamous flowers. An Insignificant
and harmless plant, which grows in our
bitches and ponds, was introduced into
England about forty years ago, and at
once became a great nuisance. 1t soon
spread so rapidly as completely to
obstruct waterways, and expensive
methods had to be employed to keep it in
check. This plant is the common ditch
moss or Anacharis. Some of our native
plants. instead of being exterminated or
driven into copses and fence-rows by
cultivation, have become aggressive
weeds. A notable instance of this kind
is the horse-nettle, of the central and
southern states. This has become @
serious pest. The slender-leaved
IIilenium of the southwestern states iS
now following Texan cattle northeast
ward, and has become established in
some of tho northern states. 1t is not
certainly known that tho Canada thistle
was introduced into this country from
Europe. 1t appears to be wild in
northern states Canada. and it may havo
taken on vagrant habit when disturbed
by cultivation. L. III. Bailey in Country