Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-22
cATERPILLARS ARE HERE
Combined Effort Necessary to Overcome
the Destructive Pest.
Means That Should he Taken to Pre-.
vent the Foliage From
being Ruined.

mer In Washington since the trees in the
streets and parks got their growth knows
what destruction annually overtakes the
foliage from the voracious hordes Of cater
pillars, who fasten their nests in festoons
of feathery webs to the branches and feed
on the leaves and tender shoots. In August
and September particularly is the presence
of the pest noticeable. The webs disfigure
almost every tree with which the streets
are flanked, and cutters and sidewalks are
covered with dead leaves which have sue.
cumbed to the attacks upon them and rus
tie beneath the gaunt and almost naked
bcughs as though stricken by the frosts of
November.
All that has ever been necessary in the
past to prevent the ravages of the hairy
little worms and preserve the beauty of
the foliage has been an early and vigor-
GUS warfare upon them soon they
began to put in their appearance. Unfor-
tunately. neither public authorities nor prl-
vate individuals have given the matter at
tention heretofore in time to make cater
pillar crusade either opportune or success
full. No one has seemed to notice the pres
ence of the pest until it had become SO
widespread that its eradication would have
been immensely laboriouS and expensive.
Early Effort is Necessary.
1t is hoped however. that the year 1885
may see a different state of affairs. The
caterpillars are now making their appear
ance in a desultory sort Of way. Here and
there on trees along the streets an OBJ
server will find no difficulty in discovering
the telltale web containing hundreds of the
creatures who are destined to create such
havoc with everything green and grow
ing if allowed to have their own sweet way.
On paling and iron fences will be found
the same webs growing larger and larger
imperceptibly. Where there is one web
hare Wi ha a n
and their living contents will increase in
the same proportion. A correspondent Of
The Evening Star wrote yesterday to say
that he had destroyed by fire in his back
yard several webs containing hundreds of
caterpillars He suggested that it would
be good idea to urge the destruction by
policemen of the webs in the trees and
fences, while citizens should follow his own
example.
There are objections to both plans, per-
haps, but there should be no difficulty in
destruction of the caterpillars and their
nests could be accomplished. The fndiS-
criminate use Of fire by any number of peo-
pie is dangerous, as there are bound to be
careless persons in the crowd.
The System Pursued In Brooklyn.
1t is very easy, however to find one care
full and prudent man in a neighborhood,
and this calls to mind the system adopted
by large portion Of the population in
brooklyn TO rio that city OF the caterpluar
pest.
The residents Of both sides of the street
en- each block, for instance, select one Of
their number, and at a given time he is
furnished with long pole having a safety
torch attached to the end The rest of the
re sidents remain indoors. The torch bearer
and assistants. if necessary, then go from
Tree to tree and cremate each nest and its
living contents in rapid order. This system
followed at the same time on the different
blocks of a large neighborhood has been
found to work wonders in destroying every
,yestige of the caterpiliars. OF course, there
is an arrangement with the Brooklyn au-
thorities which permits the use of the fire
as mentioned, a clause Of which is under
stood to prohibit fire being touched to nests
or webs found elsewhere than in growing
trees shrubbery. Those webs that are
found attached to fences, porches, the caves
OF houses and sheds, and under and over
wiz dows. are removed by hand or other
mems free from dangerous accompani-
Elents..
There is no doubt that the Commissioners
would quickly adopt measures to prevent a
recurrence of the caterpillar scourge during
the approaching dog days if the necessities
this end in view many persons who have
the beauty Of the city trees at heart pro-
pc Sc to keep sharp lookout for the cater
pillars Webs and write to the Commission
ers giving the exact location of the trees
containing the webs that they may discover,
requesting at the same time the destruction
OF the fragile homes of the most destruc-
tive insects city of trees can possibly en-
terrain.