The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-04-21
PESTlFEROUS INSECTS.
Modes Of Combating them Successfully
Valuable Information.
atlanta Journal.

A larger number of insects ara visible
in summer than in winter. With the
advent of cold weather the insects seek
sheltered retreats, become dormant and
therefore invisible. In addition some
are killed by cold, others fall prey to
their enemies, and as propagation ceases
during their winter sleep, the places of
those that perish are not filled. For
above reasons comparatively few insects
are seen in the early spring, when re-
turning warmth awakes them to life and
activity again.
Insects pass through the winter in sew
eral states or conditions as mature in.
sects-as pupte or chrysalids "a strange
intermediate between the worm and a
full grown insect, as worms or grubs,
and as eggs. When cold weather sets in
thu mature insects hide themselves in
the hollows of old trees and stumps,
| under the bark of those that are dead,
in cellars and garrets of houses, under
rocks and other sheltered places, and
some burrow in the earth. Pupa are
found suspended from the limbs Of trees,
the rails of fences, and in openly built
outhouses. Mature insects and pup@
are especially liable to attacks of birds,
like the wren, and other enemies.
Grubs and worms generally burrow in
the ground, aud make for themselves
smooth-walled cavities in which they
coil up and sleep through the winter.
Thus domiciled they resist severe cold
with impunity, but if their cells are dis
turbed by plow or spade and they are
placed in direct contact with the pull
verized soil they perish. This has been
demonstrated experimentally in the case
of cut worms at one of the agricultural
experiment stations, and is an impor-
tant practical fact to ths gardener aud
farmer.
1t suggests very simple and pracli.
cable method of attacking these trouble
some customers. Worms and grubs in
the ground, if undisturbed, are better
protected from cold than grown insects,
or pupe, and are also less liable to at
tacks of enemies. The much abused
mole is the gardeners best friend in de.
stroying these under ground pests, as the
true mole, contrary to general belief, feeds
entirely upon insects.
1t is generally believed that very cold
winters are particularly destructive to
insects. In some instances this may be
true, in others it is not. It is true of
insects that pass the winter in their full
grown state. But to those that pass it as
pupe, warm winter may prove more
destructive than a cold one, because
warm spells may cause pupe to develop
into full grown insects, and these, not
finding the food they live on that sea-
son, perish. If severe cold destroys in.
aects generally, very cold countries
should have. but few of them, but such
is not the case. Insects abound in Can.
ada 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 al
ready given. Reproduction stops in
winter, but cold and enemies continue
their work. Those that survive, howev.
er; begin at once the work of reproduc-
tior. As the life of generation, in
case of mauy insects, extends through a
few weeks only, they multiply with great
rapidity. 1t is obvious, that the best
time to make war upon the insects is in
early spring, when they are least num-
erous. We desire especially to empha-
size this point.
In cities two of the most troublesome
insects are the'houseHy and the mosqui.
to. The housefy passes through the
winter in its adult stsge. 1t seeks the
safest and warmest retreat it can fnd,
remains dormant during very cold wea.
ther but comes out occasionally during
exceptionally warm spells. Many that
went into winter quarters perish and
few appear comparatively in spring.
If everybody would destroy the small
number first observed in spring, this
pest could be kept in bounds more easily
afterward.
In early spring .ay-paper aud other
fly destroyers are especially in order,
they will do vastly more good then than
at a later period. Pyrethrum or insect
powder thrown into the air of closed
room will quickly stupefy, if not kill, all
the flies in it. They will soon drop on
floor, and should be swept up and burn
ed. The writer has used this powder
freely for many years to get rid of flies,
with satisfactory results, If the first
flies that appear in spring are not de-
stroyed 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. It's eggs are laid in
the accumulations of horse and COW
stables. If kerosene is sprinkled freely
over such accumulations every few days
it will destroy both the eggs and the new
ly Matched msggots. The emulsion is
made by dissolviuga fourth Of a pound of
hard soap in quart of boiling water and
while it is still hot adding one pint of
kerosene and stirring vigorously until a
thorough mixture results. This mixture
should be kept in stopped jugs or bot
ties, and when to be used diluted with
fifteen times its bulk in water. The free