The morning call., 1893-03-17
BUGS AND FUNGI.
Afternoon With Eminent
Professors.
WARAGAINsT ORCHARD PESTS
J. H. Comstock and v. L. Kellogg En-
tightening the California State
Horticultural Society.

The California State Horticultural Soci-
ETY. assembled yesterday afternoon to do
honor to Professor j. 81. Comstock, ento-
mologist of Cornell and Stanford universi-
ties, and Professor Y. L. Kellogg of the
University of Kansas.
Both gentlemen are recognized authori-
ties on the science of economic entomology,
and advantage was taken of their presence
in the city TO hear from their lips some of
the results of their investigations in that
special field.
Professor Comstock, when Hayes was
President, held the position of Government
Entomologist. BE conferred a lasting obI-
CATION upon the fruit-growers Of this State
when in Office by instituting a searching
inquiry concerning the fruit pests that then
menaced California's horticultural industry
Professor Y. L. Kellogg. though a very
young man, has achieved fame among the
same class by his Investigations of insect
destroying flung.
About forty persons constituted their
audience yesterday. Among the number
were Two ladies and one japanese gentle
man. B. NJ. LelOng, president of the Horti-
cultural Society, was in the chair. Professor
i. j. Wickson, the secretary, was also on
hand.
The wall behind them was covered with
prints of bugs and fungi in various stages
of evolution. The tables were loaded with
glass cases filled with specimens. A power
ful microscope was also convenient.
Professor COmstock told mnutely the
life history of the predatory insects COM
monty known as scale bugs. a curious fact
disclosed by him was that the fully devel-
Oped male loses his mouth but gains two
additional eyes. The male of the species
also has habit Of dying young. while the
female. like the average office-holder,
tepsciously clinRs 10 life. The explanation
of the diffusion Of the pests was that they
are carried on birds feet, where they obtain
lOdgment during the roosiing hours. The
excretons eff insects were remarkable.
They exuded powder, cotton and wax. In
India shellac was collected from their
bodies; in China wax of commercial
value. The Insects sucked their nOurisb-
mpnt from the trees, which by the chem
istry of nature becomes powder, cotton and
wax. Insects likewise eXuded honey dew,
and the professor exhibited a vial contain
ing sugar made from honey dew. a species
Of fungus lives on this dew.
Professor COmstock stated that his own
book on the subject was a study Of the
Classification OF such insects. 1t was of the
highest practical importance 10 ascertain to
what class any certain insect belongs. The
knowledge was indispensable in enforcing
quarantine regulations so that dangerous
pest could be stamped out before it Obtained
g f0OthOld.
i IC luEhhRuo VI hbtkluR 10 ODLall TIE
proper classification were explained. A
microscope Of high power was an indispen-
sable instrument, and the insects had 10 be
boiled so as to remove the wax that envel-
Opes them,
California, he remarked, had done more to
protest fruit-growers from noxious pests
than any other State, but there was one
neglected field, and that was the failure TO
institute careful, patient Investigation Of
facts. THIS work should devolve uoon some
one person, day by day 20 watch the insects
and get their life history, In order that the
oTchardst may know how TO fight them best.
The various natural and artificial means
OF fighting these insects were described.
Tie must important natural method was by
tho importation Of the Cardinal Yedalia or
lady bug. THIS had done more than auy-
thing else TO relieve California. This work,
however, should be done only by the most
careful entomolOgsts. There was danger in
people asking their Australian c0rTespon-
dents to send them ladybugs. for it should
be rememb bered that these In turn have their
parasites which might bear them company.
Another class Of natural enemies to the