The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-23
ARMY WORM AND LADYBUG
Insects Causing Much Damage
to the Fruit and Vege-
table Crops.
Injury to Tomatoes, Corn and Other
Products-VIeWs of Promi-
nent Dealers.

The ravages OF the army worm III the
interior valleys OF the State and along the
middle San Joaquin and Sacramento riv-
ers are being decidedly felt in the local
market.
For some years its work has been more
or less apparent, but the growers were able
to handle the worm by ordinary means.
They have appeared in such numbers OF
late in certain sections as TO cause much
loss.
At S. Levy & Co.'S, the commission firm,
they received a shipment Of tomatoes some
days ago, and the lot was so filled with
the worms as to be valueless. They were
set aside to note the effect and it was not
long before the whole inside of the vegeta-
bies were eaten entirely out, leaving only
the shell.
The worm, which is about an inch and a
half long, is a yoracious feeder and makes
short work of anything it attacks. The
damage TO the bean crop is correspond
ingly great, so much so that the local mar
ket is almost entirely supplied from gar
dens in San Mateo County, which seem to
have so far escaped.
Mr.. Giannini of l.. Scatena & CO., who
are among the largest handlers of interior
NtECtuDitS anu lluiLS, odlAl llliI us IL result
of the worms attack the tomato market
was very stiff, good uninjured shipments
being very scarce. The ordinary plan of
digging trenches and burning the pests is
useless when they appear in any consid-
cradle numbers, as they rapidly fill up the
ditch and continue their march.
Many of the farmers are adopting the
plan that has worked so successfully at the
ltalian-Swiss colony north of this city,
x.rho hin finn IF Nyhput nreonic
and molasses makes preparation that the
worms devour with avidity.
A. Levy of A. Levy IL Co., one OF the
large firms, has remarked the scarcity re-
sulting from the worm and also spoke of
the effect that the ladybug was producing.
To the common ordinary red bug, as well
as the green speckled one, imported to
destroy the scale, is laid much of the dam
age 10 garden corn, apricots and peaches.
Mr.. Minaker of Minaker II Wcllbank, in
discussing the matter, said that there was
no doubt that the damage from the lady
bug, contrary TO general opinion as 10 their
harmlessness, was the cause of the loss of
hundreds of dollars. While the ordinary
worm found on corn is satisfied to eat
away n few kernels, it is claimed that the
ladybugs will flock on the new ears and
eat away the young silk, and rs each thread
represents kernel the result is the killing
of from one-quarter to three-quarters of the
ear.
Numerous ears were shown that were
literally covered with bugs. One grower,
near Newark, says that he lost one patch
OF corn valued at over $500 from the bugs
alone Their work was also shown on
apricots, where they had bored into the
fruit fully quarter of an inch.
AS they also destroy the scale that infect
apricots, apples and other fruit il is sup
posed it is their search for tbs insect that
causes the damage in these particular
cases. The ladybugs also attack beans,
eating away the blossoms, this being very
noticeable around Niles and Alvarado, and
also at Sehastopol.
While many of the fruits and vegetables
are not overly plentiful, the quantity of
peaches coming into the market is re-
markable, the receipts yesterday morning
being equal 10 over 10000 baskets. OF
these the canneries took probably 1000
baskets, while the balance were placed TO
good advantage with the retail stores and
peddlers. 1t is quite probable that the
canneries will soon be running TO their
full capacity.
At McDonogh & Runyon's, who deal
largely in the valley products, as well as
at lmmel & Co.'S, II. Heckman's and
other places, the army worms damages
were commented upon, but il was thought
that the recently devised means of exter-
mination would soon do away with the
A..