The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-16
NOT THE noe LOUISE.
A Letter From Entomologist Rlev on
the Insects Found in the Earth.

A Letter From Entom olOgise nueV On
the Insects Found in the Earth.
WASHINGTON CITY, March 81, 1892.
To THE EDITOR: have just received copy
of your paper of March TO- in which, under the
heading, slice in the Earth" the announce
ment is made that the president and secretary
of the state board of horticulture have MADE the
valuable discovery that the stem oil the
hop plant louise 10 found in the earth OF the mop
fields. The secretary of the state board OF norti-
culture is reported to have placed some creuence
in the matter and to have expressed himself at
some length as to the significance of the OBJ
servation. You will be interested, therefore, 10
know that specimens of this insect supposed 10
be the stem-mother OF the hop plant louise were
forwarded to me by Mr.. Tonneson ana proved 10
have no connection with this insect Ihey
were specimens o. an underground form OF some
plant louise of the genus Tychea- This insect
has no relation with the hop plant louise, but BE-
longs to an entirely different sub-family. have
investigated this matter most carefully, follow
ing through the life history OF the
insect both in the hon fields OF
New York and in England, and the life history
as have recorded it is correct beyond all per
adventure. All sorts of insects can De founo
upon the roots or near the base OF the vine our
ing the winter months. This fact often misled
not only practiced hop growers, but other In
vestigators, and the ideas which you now pro-
mitigate are the very ideas which prevailed
prior to the exact observations and discoveries
which have given US the true winter history OF
phorodon hanauh. Only the most careful and
competent study of the insects found in the
ground will prevent your people from falllng
into the earlier blunders made in the East aud
in other parts OF the world. The winter egg
occurs only upon plum, and it is upon this
plant that the stem mother will be found in the
spring, and spraying plum trees shortly after
the foliage puts out is without doubt by lar the
best preventive measure which we have. Yours
truly, CIV. RILEY. Entomologist
F. L Washburn in Portland Oreyonian.
A few weeks since l noticed in the OregonfdH
an item to the effect that the genuine hop louise
had been found alternating in the earth in hop
yards about Buena Vista, Or. Shortly after
that another communication appeared stating
that they were being found by the thousands in
yards in Washington.
Still later received copy Of Seattle paper
with very startling heading TO one column,
viz: "Lice in the Earth. Stem Mothers Discov-
cred Hiding In the Hop Hills Professor Riley
made an error. The insect that lays the eggs
does not come from the plum trees. etc"
This was such a striking contradiction OF
what has been proven to be the insects habits
by several years of careful observation on the
part oil noted specialists, whose investigations
IN Europe and America coincide exactly as to
iSSultss tudt l WhB extremely lHcTtuuAOus.
thermore, Professor Riley, who concluded sew
eral years ago, from his personal study extend
ing over two years, that the winter eggs were
placed on the plum, stands at the head of his
profession, occupying the position OF United
States entomologist, and rarely snakes an
error"
Morally certain that our Washington friends
had made mistake, sent to a member OF their
board of horticulture for specimens Of the insect
which they called hop louse Specimens were
kindly sent me aud proved to be not the hop
louise at all, but members OF the family Rhizo-
6snS, root lice found in the soil, preferably in
moist, clayey earth, clustered on roots of sorrel
grasses, etc. and even the roots of fruit trees,
which latter habit and the fact that white,
mealy secretion is found plentifully where they
are present, has given rise to belief that they
are woody aphis. They do not in the least men
ACC the agriculturist least of all the hop
growers, who must turn their energies in a diff
ferent direction from that suggested in the
article in the Seattle paper referred to.
Let owners of hop yards rest easy as regards
this ''stem mother" This insect Is not Phrod0B
hfmah and calls for no attention. Statements
maze as the result of careful work by special
lists should not be lightly questioned. Not I'M
til the leaves are well out need we look for the
hop louise. Then let the would-be successful
grower prepare his spray pump and his kerc-
sene emulsion or Quassia and soap mixture.