The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-07-05
The Grain Plant Louce.

| his is HOT Tie IlrSt SedSOn llldt tnlS dpnlS
aven@ has come like destroying flood upon
| the grain fields. Q In 1861 the lice swarmed
! upon the cereal crops of New England and
| New York, at which time DIR. Asa Fitch
| fully described it in his sixth report. In
| 1866 and again ten years later it did great
damage in various sections in the west. We
see then that this louise does not come yearly
but only at long intervals. Why is this? 1t
| is doubtless owing in some measure to the
weather, but moreIto its insect enemies.
| We readily see that its enormous prolificness
would make it as the sands of the sea shore
every year, except that some natural agent
held it i'm check. Fitch describes. three such
enemies. Even now as we visit the oat and
wheat fields we find many forms different
from any previously described. These have
short, rounded bodies, which are of dirty
white color The cause of this is that these
are attacked by parasites, which are eating
them up. We have reared severarof these
little benefactors, and find them now buisly
engaged in the fields laying the eggs that
will destroy the lice. These minute parasi-
tic insects lay great many eggs, one in
each louise, and their presence and pros
perity mark the doom of the lice. Thus
through the agency of these minute parasi-
tic forms, aided by climatic influences, we are
to be savedofrom q raid by this grain aphls
next year, and will be greatly benefited this
year. Indeed, in some cases, these little
friends will very likely save us from serious
damage. Why the parasites are not able
to come successfully to the rescue each year
is still unknown. Very likely this problem
will receive very valuable practical solu-
ton in the future. In these parasites the
entomologist sees the doom of the lice, but
not, fear, till the great harm is done. Dry
weather is great promoter of insect pro-
ductiveness. II is more than probable that
the exceeding drouth of 1887, 1888 and of
the April and May just past, together with
the mild winter of 1883 and 80, have had
much to do with the present invasion. We
might expect much aid from our frequent
June rains, but fear they were too late.
Observation shows that the lice are more
than holding their own, so we may conclude
that the warm rains are not greatly depict
ing their ranks.
Where the lice are very numerous, as
they seem to be over widespread area OF
our country, they must do great injury.
Where ten or.twelve lice are collected about !
q single kernel of wheat, as l have actually |
seen in the past few days, there is little hope |
for that kernel. l have counted one hun
dred and sixty lice on single head of |
wheat. 1t is hoping too much of the little |
parasitic flies TO expect them to save the |
present crop. We can but expect much i'll
jury, especially where the lice are in such |
countless numbers as are now seen in many |
of our wheat fields of Indiana, Ohio, and |
Michigan.
The excellent specific against plant louise
ravages, the kerosene and soap mixture, cam
not be used without much injury to the |
crop. TO apply it might be like the jump
from frying pan to fire. Again, the lice |
are so protected by the close cluster Of the
kernels that very likely the remedy would |
not be fully effective. / could not, there !
fore recommend its application in this case.
We are now making extensive and accurate |
experiments, SO that at time of future raid |
we can speak with positiveness in this mat
ter. We are aiming to find just what the |
damageSis, just how many lice it requires
on head to blast it, and just how effective
the remedy is, and how serious the damage |
of its application will be to the plants.