Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-01


Station at this place, whose In
production into West Virginia forests
Of the German pine bark beetle de-
stroyers has proved Of such wonderful
success this spring, thus saving thou
sands OF dollars to owners Of standing
nine timber, to-day gave the REGISTER
correspondent the following account OF
the reasons for securing the foreign
PARASITES and the circumstances leading
up TO them. What he says will no
doubt prove OF interest TO timber men
and others he said:
st appears that an unhealthy cond'-
ton OF the pine forests Of West Virginia
and Virginia has existed at certain
points in the Allegheny mountain range
and adjacent foothills since about the
year 1855, but mad not attracted local
attention until within the last two
wears, when its rapid spread and in
creasing devastation brought the mat
ter 10 public notice, and II was referred
TO this Experiment Station and TO us
for investigation. / have, therefore,
made two extensive journeys through
the eastern portion Of our State for the
purpose Of ascertalnin2 the character
aud cause OF the trouble aud the extent
OF the damage, and also 70 discover, II
possible, q remedy.
at was found that when this trouble
commences In healthy forest, groups
Of trees, numbering from two 10 a
dozen or more, are noticed dying the
first year. The foliage on such trees
first turns yellow, then red, as II killed
By fire. The second year this peculiar
condition will have spread until the
groups OF dying trees extend from one
TO ten or more acres, and by the third
year the entire forest of pine Of all
kinds, and hundreds Of acres, are found
DEAD AND DYING.
"During the investigation OF these
affected forests, ! carefully examined
large numbers OF dead, dying and green
trees, and in every case where they
were affected by the characteristic
trouble found abundant evidence that
one species OF insect was specially TO
blame for the primary attack and re-
sulting death OF the trees. This insect
is known 70 entOmologists as dcHdOc-
trOnltS frOntdlis, and we have given IL
the common name Of pine bark beetle.
The rapid spread Of this insect, and us
destructive work, is q very remarkable
occurrence, from the fact that hereto
fore IL has been rare and but little, if
anything, was known Of its habits.
THE pine bark beetle is a small,
black hard-shelled bug, one-eighth OF
an inch long long and has the appear
ance OF having a head nearly as large
= - a
pears in great numbers in July, when
1t attacks the green trees and bOres
through the bark into the wood. They
extend their galleries in all directions,
de pOsit their eggs, which hatch into
minute - grubs, and soon become
-HDsns' psfent beetle, and by their feed
ing completely destroy the tree. This
Obstructive beetle has been found at
tacking fine species Of pine, the black
and spruce and cultivated spruce. The
trouble has been found to be Of seri-
Gus character, It spread rapid and the
destruction complete, and should this
work continue in the spruce and white
pine Of our State, and the invasions Of
this insect extend into the great pine
forests Of the Southern States, many
millions of dollars will be added to the
Loss ALREADY Sustained.
"But now to consider the remedy: The |
forests OF West Virginia must be saved.
cutting and burning was impracticable.
/ began to correspond with entOmOlo- !
glsts and forest officials Of Germany, and |
from them ] learned that a certain in
sect In Europe was very destructive !
to insects similar Ia appearance /
and habit TO our destructive pine bark !
beetle. The experiment OF introducing |
this beneficial European insect into |
our state to check the present trouble, |
was recommended TO our Station oificl- |
ais and to owners OF our spruce and /
white pine forests. The proposed eX-
pirement was approved, and the station, |
aided by liberal contributions from four |
Of the principal owners OF the timber, |
sent me to Europe In quest OF such in /
sects, as In my judgment, would accom- /
plish the desired end. / proceeded TO /
Germany. After visiting some Of the /
principal pine aud spruce forests Of
Alsace-LOraine aud SaXOny, 10 /
Germany, and Schwyz, Lucerne and !
the Overland Bernese Alps, in Switzer- |
land, 1 started back 10 America with a 4
large number Of fine specimens Of a /
species OF insect which was found TO be |
specially destructive TO various bark /
beetles IN all the forests visited. On /
my return found that this European |
species would readily attack and devour /
the destructive pine bark beetle, as /
we'll as other bark beetles nearly related /
to It, thus saving the forests. This /
promising friendly insect is known by |
the common name OF
BARK BEETLE DESTROYER.
II is very active. ant-like in appearance.
and everlaStingly after its prey, pounc-
ing upon them and devOuring them
without mercy. It's method Of destrue-
ton could not be better. Ii first at
tacks the bark beetles before they enter
the tree. Those escaping its seizure,
and having entered the bark, are over
come by its laying its eggs at the en-
trance Of the beetles burrOw, which
hatch and immediately enter their gal.
lerles and prey upon their eggs and
young. Like tiger among animals, IL
is truly tiger among bark beetles.
Il am confident the experiment will
prove q success, and have arranged TO
have this bark beetle destroyer collect
ed in Germany and introduced into our
forests in the greatest possible num-
bers."