Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27

NSSOOAS
and remain in the
{: SIS; +: Il; t. 4;
hibernate. As soon as
warm wenther arrives THE cArERPTLLAE's
each chrvsaiis il burst METAMORPHOsfs.
open and out flies a moth. The moth lays her
eggs as quickly as possible upon a leaf, usually
near the end of branch, sometimes on tho
upper and sometimes on the lower side. These
eggs are deposited in clusters, close together
and in regular rows. On an average 500 eggs
are laid by each female. Under the micro
scope the eggs are seen 10 be OF bright golden
yellow color, ornamented by numerous little
pits, which give them tho appearance OF SO
many beautiful golden thitnbIes. A week or
ten DAYS after being laid the csterplllars are
Matched from the eggs. Without check the off,
spring Of one female moth might number 1885,
GOO caterpillars in early fall--enough to ruin
the shade trees in many o fine street.
AS the young caterpiiiars arc
Matched they Immediately go to work to spin
silken web for themselves, under the protection
OF which they feed in company, at first devour-
ing only the upper portion OF each leaf they
attack and leaving the veins and lower skin I'm
disturbed Increasing in size they enlarge
their web by connecting it with adjoining
leaves and twigs; thus as they gradually work
downward the web becomes quite bulky. and.
being filed with brown and skeletonized leaves
and other discolored matter as we'll as with the
ant feature to the eye in the public thorough
fares and parks. The caterpillars always feed
beneath these webs. but ~ soon> as they ap-
proach maturity, which requires about one
month, they begin to scatter about in search
Tor suitable places to SPIN their cocoons in.
The enterprising young things thus compelled
BY law Of nature to leave their web
DROP TO THE GROUND
by hne siIken thread OF their own spinning
and crawl about on the sidewalks or elsewhere,
affording an unpleasant invitation to the IN
wary footstep of the passer-by. Some of
them in their hunt for spots for hiding make
their way unlimited into the houses. Favorite
rubbish collected around the base Of trees and
the angles Of tree boxes. For this reason, il
for no other, tree boxes should be done away
with In some cases they make use even OF tine
empty cocoons OF other moths. The mouth of
This creature is white, with very slight yellow
bh shade and spotless wings.
THE CATERPILLAR PLAGUE.
Doubtless you well remember the plague of
ca,srpiliars that attacked Washington in 1886
and laid the city almost bare of foliage The
rows Of shade trees along the streets and ave-
nuss became leafess and covered with throngs
OF the hairy worm. Except on the very tall trees
the tops Of which were too high for thecaterpil-
lars to reach, not a vestige of foliage could be
seen. and the bare branches we're further dis
figured by an upholstery of webs filled with
debris. The parks Jared . little better, partly
because caterpillars will not travel over grass
unless prompted by extreme hunger. Condi-
lions are most favorable in Washington for the
propagation OF these insects, avenues Of the
same kinds Of trees extending for miles
along every street with branches interlac-
ing. 80 that the worms have an uninter-
rupted march. Hungry caterpillars leaving a
denuded tree in search Of food march in a
straight line to the next tree, sometimes a dis
nj ant nufIn M Int thnvy,
keen sense to guide them. In this manner two
columns Of wandering caterpillars are formed
on . street, which frequently move in opposite
directions. The almost total defoliation of
1885 produced one very curious effect-nany
plants and trees which usually blossom in
spring coming out with their flowers as late as
November. An artificial period Of rest or win
ter, had been occasioned for the plants by the
worms, which was followed by unreasonable
budding and Towering.
sPAERows AND OWLS.
"The English sparrow, introduced for the
destruction of the so-called measuring worms,
will not touch these hairy ca;erpillars Not
only do they not destroy them, but they do
much to make their numbers greater b. driy-
ing away the birds that do eat them new
enemy is being found for the sparrows, which
should be decidedly encouraged. The little
screech owl 10 becoming much more common
N the vicinity OF cities where the sparrow in
numerous, and IL preys upon the sparrows as
boldly does a. the sparrow hawk In Europe.
It's attacks are made toward dusk at time
when the sparrow has retired for tho night
and Is not sufficiently wide awake to escape.
Also the screech owl feeds eagerly upon the
saterpillars. II the cuckoos could be induced
20 build their nests within the CITY
limits they would do much to help
the war against caterpillars. II proper
shelters were provided for them there
would be no difficulty; think, in persuadine
them to remain. Tho common crow eats very
many caterpillars and should be protected To
provide attractive homes for desirable birds
bird boxes are not sufficient, because the latter
are occupied at once by the pugnacious spar.
row to the exclusion Of the others In Europe
She problem has been solved satisfactorily by
fastening bundles OF thorny branches in this
erosches OF taller trees to prevent from climb.
ing up, and by forming groups OF dense trees and
bushes. surrounded by thorny hedges, to keep
the cats and other enemies out In such nlsce,
cuckoos and osher desirable birds would bs
satisfied to find themselves domestica,ed anf
would utilize them az soon as they discovered
their safety.
HOW TO GET RID OF THE PESTS.
"Now, to get rid Of the catorpiiiars would
not be difficult or expensive if proper methods
we're employed To begin with, much may b,
done in the winter time by the systematic clear
ing away Of the cocoons from the Shelters,
places In which they may be found A gooS
plan Is to rake up the refuse about each tree il
tas fall The worms will conceal the mselyes ii
10 for spinning their cocoons and may be read
Ny destroyed later on when the refuse has be
come dry by simply burning it When th,
middle Of May arrives, at which time all tn,
saterpillsrs are about to begin work smultane
oasly, an effectuai check may be put TO then
BY spraying the trees with srsenical mixtures
One spraying at that time. repeated once Of
twice later IN the season. at intervals Of q fort
night, viii prove an effecsual protection (,
trees Of all kinda The work can b,
done ct very small cost. With an apparstu
consisting Of water tank mounted on q car
and furnished with strong force pump An,
swo hoses three men can drive along tn,
street, and thoroughly spray two trees stimuli
tsneously. Each hose should have q cyclou,
nozzle to distribute the solution, which 1
cheap enough, half pound Of London purpl
being required for each barrel of water Will
three quarts Of damaged dour 70 render tn
mixture adhesive. Two such tanks with q ran,
Of three men for each could protect the city
and two sprayings, one about the middle o
Nay and one the FIRST week In June, viii pre
vent sny such nuisance - hAs occurred hi
ysar.
10 MonD WHIrlwAsnTN0.
"Ihos Uhitevaahing e tfeoo n Yaahinstal