Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1893-12-22
FRUIT TREE PESTS.
AN INTERESTING PAPER ON THAT
SUBJECT.

AN INTERESTING PAPER ON THAT
SUBJECT.
The Damage Done by These Pests
Formerly Unknown-Imported by
Trees From Abroad - Remedies
Suggested.
The following paper was read by
Trevor Kincaid before the Thurston
County Horticultural Society at the
November meeting:
"The damage done by insects in the
Uuited States is almost beyond belief.
A conservative estimate places the loss
at $3SO,OOO,OOO. Up to recent date
the orchards of this State have been
comparatively free from injurious in
sects. But now that the acreage in
fruit has been vastly increased and
many OF the Eastern pests imported
with fruit trees brought from infected
districts, it is becoming necessary to
wage stern war against the intruders.
ain defending ourselves from the
attacks of insects it is of vital import.
ance to have general knowledge of
the changes through which they pass
at different periods. In the life OF
every insect there are four we'll
marked stages:
"First-the egg, during which per-
iod no damage can be done.
"Second-the caterpillar or larva.
1t is during this stage that the largest
amount of injury is done.
"Third-the chrysails or pupa stage,
during which most insects remain
quiet and take no food.
"Fourth-the perfect insect.
Some insects are injurious in all
their stages after leaving the egg, but
in most Of them only the larva is
destructive.
"Insects injurious to vegetation
may be divided into two classes by
the nature OF their attacks:
"The first group consists OF those
that have mouth parts adapted for
biting and chewing. The second
group consists of those that nave the
mouth parts developed into a beak or
snout adapted for sucking.
"The best method of destroying the
FIRST group is to apply some poisonous
material to the foliage, such as Paris
green or London purple. This being
eaten with their food causes the death
OF the insect. The second is much
more difficult to deal with, including
as 1t does the various scale insects,
plant lice, etc. As their food is drawn
from beneath the surface, surface
poisons do not affect them, and ap-
plications are required which will kill
by mere contact with their bodies.
The remedy of this nature that has
the widest use is kerosene emulsion.
"A pest that has made itself rather
conspicuous this fall is a species of
canker worm. The eggs OF this insect
are laid by the female moth on the
twigs OF the trees which they infest,
such as apple, plum, prune, etc. In a
short time these eggs hatch out into
small caterpillars which Immediately
begin to feed upon the leaves. Dur
ing the next few weeks they gradually
increase in size. When they have
reached their full growth they are
about two inches long, of various
shades OF green and brown in color.
and move in 3 curious looping manner
which has caused them to be named
loop worms, measuring worms, etc.
They now crawl down the trunk of
the tree or drop from the branches by
a silken thread to the ground, and
burrowing into the soil change to the
pupa or chrysalis. Here they remain
till the moths hatch out. Strange to
say, the females, which come out OF
the ground before the males, arc
absolutely wingless. Being entirely
unable to fly, they seek out a suitable
tree and climb up the trunk into the
branches. Here they are joined by
the perfectly winged males. After
they have paired, the female proceeds
to lay the eggs for another brood.
"The best remedy for this pest is
an application of Paris green at the
time the young caterpillers hatch out,
or the females may be prevented from
climbing into the trees by tying bands
OF some sticky substance such as tar
around the tree trunks"