The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-01
IINY ENEMIES OF CTR TREES.
Insects In Great Variety Equipped VITA
Powerful Organs OF Destruction.

| Insects In Great Variety Equipped with
Powerful Organs OF Destruction.
When EntomologIst Southwick OF the Park
Department Is not busy grooming the trees OF
the downtown parks and squares these late
| autumn days lie sits up In his den at the Ar
| senal and wishes lie had q hundred hands
and hundred pairs OF eyes. II he were
so equipped. lie might perhaps keep pace
in his studios with the animal reyela-
tions OF insect life that como to him in
the course OF his outdoor duties. The en-
tomologist Is one OF the lucklest mon In New
York In that he has managed to reconcile
pleasure and duty. His laborious war upon
the insects that beset the vegetation OF the
public parks Is his one great delight. He Is on
terms Of easy familiarity with some hundreds
OF insects that he seeks to exterminate. They
are. so to speak. his intimate enemies and the
winter months give him little leisure to ex.
tend these intimacies.
1t is a fancy OF the entomologist that insect
life and tho higher animal life have their
parallelsms. Indeed. he finds in the insect
world odd resemblances to the traits and occu-
pations OF men. There are the lions and the
tigers OF the Insect world: the seals and the
walruses OF water insects: tho carpenters, the
masons. the paper akers. the gravediggers
In the wilds OF Central PARK the lions ran 70 for
their prey: in the junEles OF Madison square
the tigers lie in wait for what they may de-
YOUR. Wherever Il tree or shrub is growing
within earshot OF tho citys noisy activities
there Is u mimic world OF insect artisans ply
ing with exquisite skill trades that are whim-,
sically like to those OF the workers that call
themselves citizens Of this town.
1.-THE winters were longer and tho ardent In
vestigator had all those hands and eyes he
longs for. he might find time to discover .
dozen other insect artisans. and perhaps to
eaten from their admirable skill hinta thak
might well DO useful in the trades OF men.
There is that extraordinary CARPENTER weigh
Ing some small traction OF a pennvweight,
who manages to drive hair-like tube. the
diameter Of the smallest needle, fully five
invisibly SINAI hollow OF this tube to expei the
tiny egg that is one day to, produce the worm
This cunning artisan turns himself into an
animated anger. He steadies himseii and
other hair-like, appendages. and having begun
his seeminEly homeless task. llgges away pa
Then there arc those unsavcry fellows tho
GraNedigGeTt Their heads look Ike spades.
some other small creature that has lost its
little H. they tal uPSn il as tho hawk drops
prey. The female digger at once bores deep
Into the body to deposit her eggs and while
side throwing furrow Of earth all around the
bit Of inanimate flesh that is TO feed the future
ergy until his tired muscles seemin ely give out
and he drops fiat in his tracks as suddenly
the sound OF the MONDAY whistles. After
rest the Eravedig-er is up and at IL again.
seeks to bury has sunk into the excavation
made and been covered with the debris. The
entonooGst would Ike TO have leisure to
learn among other things lust how much
help the gravedigger receives from his mate
IN the actual process Of interment He knows
to tho possibilities Of food for her young in the
carcass that she discovers and lays too many
InE linn Of 0
proves that they have taken part in some early
struggle for existence.
ceiye these names from their earn iyorous hab-
its. They are tho friends Of the Park Depart
insects. he lions. notably Coio soma OF two
varieties. are not only yoracious but beauti-
fnl on, one is clad IN burnished green. Skinner;
spots, Th. tiger beetle is famous for his great
and powerful Jaws. A real tiger whose Jaws
as those Of his Insect namesake. would be
tho most form liable Of living creatures.
oGist's specimens is the tortoise beetle. found
upon the wild morning glory in the thlckets OF
upon the leaf Ike drops of molten gold. They
would be priced as gems were i not that they
many exporlments with the hope Of preserving
he original splendor Of this insect; but in
most curious aud interesting. Ii Is best seen
n the larger ones. They measure. perhaps
hre;e.IGur.hs 81 ~ inch IN greatest diameter.
IN oval bit OF amber. They much resemble
he artificial tortoises.
Eutomologist Southwick finds at the end Of
he seasons open-air work that the elm bee-
Lea. Of which hs has ceased to 10 afraid, has,
IN the whole. become less destructive in
Is rayRRes heIeabouts. Il seems 10 be travel
ing northward. and Is now doing much harm
n northern New York. The elm borer, a re-
ent importation from Germany. is more and
more destructive. After every storm there
FS% TSch S Il; Gs
~ nature tho weak and ragged thing II now
appears hereah0uts owes its condition to the
ttack Of "A powerful borer Tho wood OF this
rec is naturally tough and durable. but =
ouRl locust tree is unknown In this region.
The ent lmOl0gist exhibits specimens OF the
lCMst wood rhlnLe el with hnes MALT an Inch