Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-07-10
THE MAPLE BARK LOUISE
Threatens DestFucsion 70 The Shade
Trees in Columbus and other Ohio

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ThreAtens DestFucsion 70 the shad,
Trees in Columbus and other Obi,
Cities. i.-. a.-..- s.r
According to a newspaper bulletiI
Ijust issued by DR.. @. M. Weed, ento
mologist Of the Ohio Experiment Sta
ton, the maple bark louise has become
destructively numerous over q large
portion Of Ohio, and Is creating much
alarm by Its presence. II is especially
at work upon the shade trees of cities
and villages, and unless checked there
Is every Indication that the trees will be
seriously injured. The insect has been
reported as very abundant in Cleveland
and Canton, and is present in many
parts Of Columbus. 1t probably occurs,
also, In a large number Of other cities
and towns Of the state. G
The presence of the pests Is shown by
the occurrence upon the twigs of ma pie
trees, especially on the under side of a
brown, circular, leathery scale about
one-quarter OF an inch in diameter, be-
meath which is fluffy, cottony mass,
that at this time is alive with hundreds
of young lice, appearing to the unaided
eye as minute, white specks moving
about. -. .s. .5.. = sas -.
About six years ago there was a SINH
lar outbreak Of this insect in Ohio, Ill
inois, Michigan and adjacent states,
when many trees were rendered un-
slightly and filthy by the presence of
the lice, and some were killed by the
attack.
This maple bark louse is an insect
belonging to o family of peculiar habits
and histories. Under each Of the scales
there was Q month agofrom 700 to 900
small white eggs. These eggs
have since Matched into young lice
which are now scattering over the trees
and will soon fix themselves upon the
leaves where they will remain through
out the season. They insert tiny
beak into the leaf and suck the sap.
Tn autumn before the foliage drops
they desert the leaves and fasten them
selves to the twigs. Much of the sap
that is sucked from the foliage passes
through the bodies and falls to the
This is frequently called hon.
ey dew.
Some of the most intelligent citizens
of Columbus report that during the
outbreak of 1884, they cleared their
shade trees of the scales and young lice
by using stream of water from the
hose, forcing it into the trees and wash
Ing them off. In cities this is the SIM
plest and easiest plan to be suggested.
or course single washing cannot be
expected to clear the trees completely,
but the treatment should be repeated
several times. The more water pres
sure on at the time of treatment the
better.
When this simple water treatment is |
not practicable, the next method
would suggest is spraying with what is
known as Kerosene emulsion. This is |
made by adding two parts of kerosene
% one part made of a solution made by |
iissolving half a pound of hard soap in |
,ne gallon of boiling water, and churn-
ng the mixture through a force pump
With very small nozzle until the
whole forms creamy mass, which will
hicken into jelly-like substance on
cooling. The soap solution should be
lot when the kerosene is added, but of
course must not be near the fire. The
thus made is to be diluted be-
ore using with twelve parts of cold
water. t
This must be applied soon after the
ice hatch witha force pump and spray
lozzle. Care should be taken that the
Ieroseneis thoroughly emulsified, else
t is liable to injure the foliage.
These bark lice have various natural
'nemies, which prey upon them. These
nemies checked the outbreak quite
uddeniy in 1885, and probably in a
'ear or two they will reduce their pres
mt numbers below the danger line.
But in the menwhile artificial remedies
hould be used as much as practicable.