The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-07-11
The Grain Piant.Louse in Ohio.

One of the most not able insect outbreaks that
has occurred in Ohio for many yt ars is now TAX
ing place in the grain fields of the state. The
insect is one which has long bean known as the
Grain Piant-Louse (SiphonrphorG grandrid).
having originally occurred In Europe from
whence it was probably Introduced into this
country early il its hi tory IT has only occas-
ionally ravaged grain fields here, and far as
our present information go3s has seldom been
Injurious in Ohio
The insect IS now present however, in de-
structiv~ numbers over large poftron Of the
State. h.t":"S alrea seriously injured the
wheat and is OW threatening an equally SER
i,tus il jury TO Its aud other grains Last year
it was present III manv of the northern coun-
tries not becoming sufficiently abundant to
attrac' notice until the oats were nearly ripe.
/ This insect is closely reiateI to the " green
fly - OF house plarts rose bushes etc It is a
small, grecnish. or in some cases b.O4nish in -
sect with or without wings, infesting th leaves
| am: heads of the grass family 1t obtains its
| food by inserting u pointed beak into the leaf
or stem and sucking out the sap. AS the wheat
gets ripe 1T migrates TO the more succulent oats,
aud when these ripen will go 10 various grasses S..
it brings forth living young, and its rate of
nuitipl Gallon is very great it being estim IT ed
that single louss in spring may become the
| Fortunately this insect has great manv en-
emies which prey upon it and are now doing
immense good in decimatIng its ranks These
are of various kind =, and in some places are
being mistaken tor Ioes ins cad of friends OF
the farmer. 1he one vi hich is causing the mos,
apprehension is pecuial dilk coIored, six
footed insect, generally with spots o a brighter
color on its back. looking. one person ex
pressed it, half worm and half bI G." VIII Oh l.
very abundant in the infested wheat ii oids
craW ling about over the heads These are TIL
: young or Larvae OF various specie Of lady-bugs
2 or lady beetles, and n.tead of attacking tn
= wheat as man4 farmers believe. is re- ally feed
ing upon the lice themselves and destroying
them By thousands Another insect mat is do
log immense coed is very small four-winge
fly III It deposits an egg within the lou e. Thi
IT egg matches ioto grub that develops at tn
= expense OF the lousc, destroying it and emere
ins again as Il four-wineea fly The dead lie
q "struck - by these parasites become dull brow
!, in color. and adhere to the leaf OF stem upo
which they were feeding.
II Besides these. various otner enemies are al
tacking the lice. and the indications now al
e that the outbreak win be so check, d by the en-
e of the season that there will be lit lie DANCE
J. of n repetition of the attack next year.
=, The presenc of English sparrows in til
:, wheat fields I'D some to believe that they wei
feeding upon the lice. but an examination
Il stomach contents of u njlinber shot while c
e. wheat. showed that the grain itself was VIII;
N they we're after. no more lice being eaten ths
L was necessary to get the grain.
# | AS yet no pr..ctic;tl artificial remedy for u
Grain Plant Louise is know". At the Static
have found that ker, sene emulsion will d
1T stroy them. but the difficulty "f reaching the
~ with this subst ,nce when they occur on the u
lie der surface of the leaf or imbedded in the ch,
lg of the head. makes the remedy hardly practic.
to The injury to The wheat will be manifested
/ the shriVeIing OF the grain due to the extra
tion Of the sap necessary for its perfect dev,
opment
10 CLARENCE M. WEED
k. Entomologist and Botanlst
| linn