The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-02-12
A Mo11 CATCHING PLANT.
GO Closes Its Jaws and Catches Its victin
a. I'm o Wise.

as In q wise.
A NV Zealand correspondent sug.
gests that the ravages of certain larva
in some countries might be greatly re-
stricted by the introduction of the New
Zealand moth catching plant, Araugia
albens. This plant, which is native
of southern Africa, was introduced to
New Zealand quite accidentally about
seven years ago, and since then it has
been extensively propagated there ON ac-
count of its effective service as killer
of destructive moths.
Wherever the climate is mild, the
plant is an exceedingly free grower 1t
twines and climbs with great luxuriance
and produces immense numbers of white
or pinkish flowers, which have very
agreeable scent These flowers attract
| innumeEable roths. On a summer even
ing hedge of araugia will be covered
by perfect cloud of moths, and in the
| morning there will not be a single fow-
er that does not imprison one or two
and sometimes as many as four insects
Of various sizes and genera. The action
of the araugia is purely mechanical
L Il
| and the receptacle for its sweet juices is
| placed at its base. Attracted by the pow
erful scent and the prospect of honey,
the moth dives down the calyx and pro-
trudes it's proboscis to reach the tempt
ing food, but before it can do SO the
proboscis is nipped between two strong,
hard, black pinchers, which guard the
passage, and once nipped there is no es-
cape for the moth, which is held as in
wise by the extreme end of the probes
els and dies miserably.
The rationale" of the process is not
yet explained. The proboscis is SO very
slightly inserted between the pinchers
fonly q minute fraction of am inch) that
it apparently cannot affect the genera
tive organs of the plant unless these
may be the pinchers themselves, whose
actual contact may be necessary for re.
production. Upon dissection the pinch
ers, even in theif ordinary position. are
invariably found to be almost in contact,
the separating interval being apparent
under strong lens. It is therefore hard
to understand why such process as the
destruction of moth should be neces
sary to close this already minute gap.
But, at all events, the thing lis done,
and effectively, and plant Of araugis
covering q space of ten yards in length
: will destroy as many hundred moths ev'
cry night, and consequently prevent thu
: ravages of 80 times as many Larvae. il
is, however, singular fuct that in New
e Zealand, where the plant has often beer
cultivated for the express purpose Of dc
y stroying tile detested codlipg moth, Car
= pocapsa ponnenalla, that Willy insect do
c1ines to enter tie trap
Llfe In Japan.
ftIt is q curious, but accepted truth,
- comments the wife OF a naval office
who has resided q number Of years i
e Japan, that Americans, as class, d
J. not long stand up against Japan life
/, There is something in the mir, or some
IS thing lacking in it, which is peculiarl
e trying to ms. So many naval officer
Q serving three or six years duty ther
it have come home with an incurable CON
Il pIaint that it is common talk i'm the sery
IS ice. Two admirals have died of abcef
s. Of the liver after several years. -esidenc
d there, and other officers have had thei
n health seriously impaired under simils
/, conditions. / never was seriously sic
d in my life till got ont to the islam
Y empire, and throughout my whole sta
e fought something. The English res
d dents Go not seem to suffer az we d
Ie which is also commented upon fact.
.. New York Times
ia