Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-31
THE THYRlDOPTERYX.

THE THYRlDOPTERYX.
 A Moth Which Is as Formidable
 as Its Name.
 Tho Bag Worm and Its Destructive Work
 How It Denudes Treos and Shrub.
 bcry of Thcir Foliage-An Insect
 of Now Jersey Origin.
 The study of the destructive bag worm is interesting, writes Q New Jersey corre- spondent of the New York Sun It is known to science as Thyridopteryx ephem- er@formis, formidable name, certainly. but not more so than the pest. The parent insect is very small moth, the wings of which are semi-transparent and small for the size of the body. The bags which they weave may be seen hanging upon the twigs or trees all winter. The bags are nearly a pointed oval in shape, and they become gray with exposure to the weather They are tough, hbrous and coarse. Many of them are empty. These are generally of tho male moth, which came forth the previous summer, sought the female at the door of her tent, and, after fccundation, SS, does not leave the cocoon, but produces eggs in such size and number that the body of the mother is completely used up in egg making. If one of the female cocoons bd opened by shipping it with sharp scissors in the winter, it will be found to contain simply the skin of the moth full of eggs In early May, if the season be advanced the eggs hatch, and the little grubs, hardly one-tweptieth of an inch in length, leave the old cocoon, or nest, and descend by 9 silken thread until they find place where they may begin their work upon the leaves At first they are too small to make thei, bags of the leaves, and too weak to cut tho foliage into sufficiently small fragments for their home. Their method of making their drst tiny bags is revealed by the miscro- scope, under which they will work very in dustriously with any fibrous dust, and even minute scales which they can find on tho leaf provided for them. The first bags are wonderfully small, but the architecture never varies. They keep right on feeding and growing, enlarging their bags by cut ting on the small and tender leaves and fragments of them until the summer is well on. Carrying It's bag. the worm then be-. gins it's midsummer pilgrimage until 1t finds an acceptable small twig, around which 1t secures the bag for it's winter suspension with band of ingeniously and strongly, made silk. This done, as respects the maie lew days of existence In the pupal state suf6ces, when 1t emerges winged moth. and, as stated, soon perishes, the female living on. It Is curious and interestine 1act that While the fully grown caterpillar searches for suitable twig unto which to ettach its cocoons for the winter supension- IL never makes the mistake of selecting the stem of leaf, as in that case the leaf when shed would fall with the chrysalis to the ground. These worms much prefer the coniferous trees, and the arbor vitse and the balsams or spruces are their favorites.
 Hitherto 1t has been thought, and, indeed, Prof. Lockwood, who has studied the hab. It's of and carefully described the worm, has stated that there Is no sure way to get rid of 1t but manipulating. It may be remem- hered that this means was resorted to bv tne 6overnment In the parks and public places at Washington a few years ago when the bag worm threatened to defoliate the trees and shrubbery of that city. Birds, 1t was supposed, would have little or noth- Ing to do with those dwellers in tents. Ob- servation would occasionally reveal the fact that robin or catbird would attack the worm, but leave 1t without any apparent de- sire to continue the pursuit of an inhabitant who has the facility of quickly withdraw Ing within his habitation and instantly clos ing the door.
 Buta fact, which may be discovery, re- c9ntly repaid the watching of lady in this village. The bag worms were rapidly de- foliating the apple and quince trees on the premises, and it was her custom to keep up the hand-picking war against them and against great odds. On the two avenues between which tho lady resides are num- Der of locust trees, of some of which the worms have taken possession. A few days ago the lady, who Is an early riser, heard two or three blackbirds utterinR their pe- culiar cries. She was surprised to hear them in the heart of the village, and wondered ciles at the head of the lake. She knew that 1t was their habit to leave their lodging places in the morning and go away to the fields and uplands for their food, untir the wild rice ripened about the streams and lowlands. Besides, the red winged biackbird (A0cl1rus phentccus) is In no sense domestic bird. It was clear, therefore, that the image thief'' must have some errand to the town. Watching them closely the lady saw to her delight that they appeared to be making an early breakfast of bag worms. She apprised her husband of the discovery, and together they stole quietly upon the birds, and found that they were indeed destroying tho enemies of the trees. It became at once 8 matter of in- terest to watch the blackbirds, and their numbers have gradually increased until they now visit in pairs and in flocks of as many as fifteen the locusts upon which the bag worms are at work. They attack the bags vigorously, chattering all the while until the worm is brought forth, when they swallow him with apparent relish. The birds, although naturally shy, are becom- ing so well acquainted with the passing and repassing of people that they are to be seen at almost any hour from early morn ing until twilight, destroying a pest which 1t was beginning to be feared would require the calling of an indignation meeting and the appointment of committee of the whole to rid the village of it's presence. That the residents are gratifed and the birds sure of protection from mischievous juveniles with stones and small arms goes without saying.
 Shoot Him on tho Spot.
 have been g raving lunatic for Q week, writes 8 young Chicagoan, and my wife is sick in bed, allibecause at party of s'for- feits" at our house one evening week ago we compelled young man to ''pay his for U n O of frxy E,,t