The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-04-13
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TEWBERRT, S. G.
pEsrIFERoUs INSECTS.
Modes Of Combating Them succeSs1n''S-
- Valuable Suggestions.
lFrom the Atlanta Journal. J

and, therefore, iHFls!p'e' 40
some are killed by cold, others fall
prev to their enemies, and as propaga-
ton ceases during their winter sieeP'
the places of those that perish are not
filed. For above reasons sconparatlVeiy
few insects are seen in the early sprlng'
when returning warmth awakes them
10 life and activity again.
Insects pass through the winter ln
several states or conditions, as mature
insects-as pupae or chrysallos IA
strange intermediate between the worm
and full grown insect, as worms or
rrubs, and as eggs. When cold weather
sets in mature insects hide themselves
IN the hollows Of trees and stumps'
nnder the bark of those that are dead,
in cellars and garrets of houses, under
rocks and in other sheltered places ana
some burrow in the earth. Pupae are
found suspended from the limbs OF trees
the rails of fences, and in openly build
ontborses. Nature insects and pupae
are especially liable to attacks Of BIRDS,
like the wren, and other enemies.
Grubs and worms generally ourro"
in the ground, and make for themselves
soooth-wal!ed cavities in which they
coil up and sleep through the winter.
Thus domiciled they resist severe colo
with impunity, but if their cells are
disturbed by plow or spade and theS
aro nleced in direct contact with the
pulverized soil they perish. This has
been demonstrated SUPPLEMENTARY IN
the case of cut worms at one OF the ag-
ricultural experiment stations, and IS
an important practical fact to the gar
dener and farmer.
Itsuggests a very simple and practl-
cable method ofattacking these trouble
some customers. Worms and gruos
in the ground, if undisturbed, are better
protected from cold than grown ln-
sscts, or pupae, and ale also less llaole
to attacks of enemies. The much
abused mole is the gardeners best frleno
in destroying these underground pests,
as the true mole, contrary to genera!
belief, feeds entirely upon insects.
Itis generally believed that very colo
winters are particularly destructive to
insects. In some instances this may
be true, in Others it is not. 1t is true O.:
insects that pass the winter IN their
full grown state. But to those that
pass it as pupae, warm winter may
prove more destructive than cold one'
because warm spells may cause pupae TO
develop into full grown insects and
these, not finding the food they live on a
that season, perish. If severe cold de-
stroys insects generally, very cold coun-
tries should have few Of them but sucn
is not the case. Insects abound IN cana
da as we'll as in Georgia.
AS stated already, comparatively few
insects are to be seen in early spring,
when returning warmth awakens them
to new life and brings them out OF their
retreats. The reason of this we have
already given. Reproduction stops 10
winter, but cold and enemies continue
their work. Those that survive, how
ever. begin at once the work of repro
duction. AS the life Of a generation, IN
case of many insects, extends through
few weeks only, they multiply Wild
great rapidity. It is obvious, that the
best time to make war upon insects is
in early spring, when they are least nu-
merous. We desire especially to en-
phasize this point.
In cities two Of the most trou blesome
insects are the housedy and the mos
quito. The househy passes through
the winter in it's adult stage. 1t seeks
the safest and warmest retreats 1t can
find, remains dormant during very colo
weather, but comes out occasionally
during exceptionally warm spells.
Many that went into winter quarters
perish and few comparatively appear in
spring. If everybody would destroy
the small number first observed in
spring, thj pest could be kept within
bounds much more easily afterwards.
In early spring fy-paper and other
fly destroyers are especially in order,
and will Go vastly more good then than
at later period. Pyrethrurl or insect
powder thrown into the air of a closed
room will quickly stupefy, ifit does not
kill, all the flies in it. They will soon
drop on the floor, and should be swept
up and burned. The writer has used
this powder freely for many years to
get rid of flies, and with most satisfac-
tory results. If the first flies that ap-
pear in spring are not destroyed they
begin at once to multiply with great
rapidity.
A few weeks only elapse between the
laying of the egg and the appearance Of
the full grown fly. Its eggs are laid in
the accumulations Of horse and COW
stables. Ifkerosene is sprinkled freely
over such accumulations every few days
it will destroy both the eggs ard the
newly hatched maggots. This emul-
sion is made by dissolving fourth of a
pound of hard soap in quart of boil
ing water, and while it is still hot add
ing one pint of kerosene and stirring
vigorously until a thorough mixture re-
suits. This mixture should be kept in
stopped jugs or bottles, and when to be
used diluted with fifteen times its bulk
Of water. The free use Of this emulsion
is earnestly recommended to those who
keep stock in the city. The early spring
is the time, and the breeding place
(stable) is the point in which the main
attacks upon the fy should be made.