New-York tribune., 1890-05-28
INPnRTEN LlUT BTGS.


some time ago Tho Tribune gave place 70 a
note ~ warning from State Entomolo-ist lintncr
concerning the expected approach of tie dreaded
cowhorn. or buffalo fy This insect. n wa-
thought. would worry the COWS in this ncishhor-
hood, and cause them T. give less milk inan
usual. and the thrifty cow owner was advised 10
give his animals a liberal dressing Of oil 10 keep
on the troublesome ty 80 far rs We have been
able 10 learn. the buffalo iiy has not arrived and
tie cautious dairyman who fabricated his cows
with high-priccd oil is SO much out Of pocket
We note. however the appearance Of the Sawfy
IN Central Illinois, where II is destroying the
wheat GIeasing the wheat stems 80 That the
sawAy can not climb them has been tried, but n
!, slow and lnhOrious operation; besides, the
more active OF the sawilcs SHIN rlght up the
stems grease or no grease. Oar Stat" EuiomolO-
pIst. however is now engaged IN another direction
where favorable results are promised, namely
the colonization Of the justly celebrated Australian
lady bug, or rs some may very lkely AaNo known
II. the Ncdaiia cardinals.
We do not src that scientists mention any con-
ncction between the Australian lady bug and the
Australian ballot, though both appear 10 be COM
ing in together. We have, OF course. lady bugs
IN this country already reddish, spotted insects,
constructed on the architectural lines of split
Pea, " liu fdlt Nt'tt'' "A''i Nitl'i' '+'f ''''49
their wings folded like pocket atlas; but these
lady bugs, interesting rs they may lc 10 the
scientists. are Of no practical value in destroying
the iCcrya scale insect which prcys on certain
trees and vines \ year ago the Iccrya bug
ny, whichever may bc the scientific term, was
busly engaged in destroying the orange orchards
in California, when suddenly the Australian lady
bug arrived, like the Monitor at Hampton Roads.
u, fhn bavnc (lrruallv m
brought "a few specimens Of the lady bug 10 Cali
fornul from Australia in bottle formerly con-
tanning Old Tom gin, but rapidly has the bug
increased that it has now practically cXtermi-
mated the unsuspecting iccrya in California. and
has saved several million dollars to the State.
Dr. Iintners idea is to introduce the lady bug
here and Offer it bill Of fare consisting Of
other species OF iccrya which at times troubles
our naples and grapeyncs fabrication, as in
the casc Of the sawly, has failed utterly.
OF course it. is the earnest wish of all that the
doctors expectations may be realized, and that
the Vedaia cardinals may clean out the ccrya
chcwemupibus. A pcculiariy of the Australian
lady bug is said to be that, unlike the English
,parrow when its natural food, the iccrya, is
exhausted, IL falls upon itself, IT were, and
the bugs turn cannibal and eat one another
What becomes Of the last bug in a colony we are
not told The new lady bug is smaller than the
one to which We are accustomed, bcinS but little
larger than the head of a goodsizcd pin. IL
would seem that the most probable difficulty
which Professor Lintner may encounter with his
contract labor bugs may be their refusal to eat
our peculiar brand OF icerya We presume that
it would be found too expensive to import icerya
for them from Australia or even California; so
that If they refuse icerya there appears to he
nothing for them 10 do but To dine on themselves
This is not a pleasant prospect to contemplate
and we sincerely hope that icerya may meet
with their approval. The Tribune will watch
DR.. I.ntncr's experiment with great interest, aid
ing IL from time 10 time by such practical sug-
gcsions and valuable scientific hints as the gen
eral public good may seem To demand.