Rocky Ford enterprise., 1895-04-04
INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES.
Lecture Before the Farmers Institute
by Prof. c. r. Gillette.

Lecture Before the Farmers Institute
by Prof. c. r. Gillette.
REPORTED By FRANK CROWLEY.
There are many species Of Plant Lice,
or Aphides, or green fly that trouble the
horticulturists. The habits, life, history
, and remedies for these are 30 similar that
I shall speak Of them in general way,
without referring to any particular spec
ies. The plant lice aIe all rather small
insects, with fask-shaped abdomens; are
either winged or wingless, have NO biting
mouth-parts, but draw their nourishment
through besk, which they insert into
the plant; they are usually found on the
under sids Of the leaves, which become
crumpled and often turn brown and die
from their attacks. Those species At
tacking out-of-door plants, for the most
the eggs being deposited on or near tho
food plants in the fall. These eggs usu-
ally hatch q week or more before the
buds open in the spring, 30 that as soon
as the first leaves begin 10 open the ico
are ready to attack them. Nearly every
ono knows with what rapidity these lice
multiply. The reason Of this 10 plain
when the reproductive habits Of the lice
are known. The eggs that hatch in the
spring produce only female lice. These
soon come TO maturity and begin giving
females, and this generation soon gives
birth to third, all of which arc females;
and 20 the rapid increase Of female lice
goes on until late in the season, when q
generation composed Of both males and
females, after mating with the males, de-
posit the eggs that are to remain over
winter and give rise to the round OF gem
erations that follow the next summer.
The first brood from the eggs arc usually
wingless, as are the generations Of fe-
males that follow, but both males and fe-
to provide for tho dissemination OF their
species.
The best remedy for plant lice Il Kero-
sene Emulsion. As the lice usually feed
on the under side of the leaves, and the
leaves curl 90 as to protect them from an
application of the emulsion, it will be
far better to make the treatment in the
spring just before the buds open and af-
ter the life have hatched from the eggs.
They are then all exposed to the applica-
tion and are also young and tender and
easily destroyed. II the lice arc upon
house plants, where it is not pleasant to
by the use Of buhach OF pyrethrum, us
ually sold az insect powder. Tobacco
smoke il also very destructive to plant
lice, but care must be taken not to fumi-
gate the plant too strongly, or they too,
will be destroyed. II the ants arc con-
tinually going up tho bodies Of tho trees
or plants it is pretty good evidence that
there are some Of the lice there % they
are very fond Of the sweet secretion which
they are continually ejecting and which
is the cause Of what has often been miss
called "honey dew"
Where the Woolly Aphis, has got .
principally, white oottony patches will be
noticed on the trees. These arc caused
by q secretion which covers the entire
insect or group Of them with this wool OF
oottony substapce. In cases where it has
got very bad q whole tree will have the
appearance Of being covered with snow.
II works ON the limbs in summer and
goes ON down to the roots during the
winter where the most injury is done.
One remedy is to move some OF the
earth aruuId d the tree and pour hot water
1876 degrees Fahrenhiet, however to ap-
ply without injury to the tree. A decec-
tion of tobacco one pound To 3 gallons
of water boiled together for Is minutes;
And also the Kerosene Emulsion are very
effective remedies. II this is applied
with brush to the bodies and limbs OF
the trees early in tho season when they
have just come up fiom the Ioots the re-
suits will be very satisfactory.
Only three or four good insecticides
are needed. London purp.e or Paris
green and white heIebore arc very .pois-
onous and are good remedies for all eat
N contact with the outside Of the bug is
good for lice and other insects that suck
the sap from the plant. The best formula
for making 1t is: pound hard soap, l
gallon water, 2 gallons coal oil. Cut the
soap in small pieces and put it into tho
water which should be brought TO ths
boiling point, when the coal oil should be
added, great care being exercised not to
let any Of the oil get into the fire as II
would make q terrible catastrophe. The
soap suds should be removed from the
fire before the oil is put in. Then m,1.
rapidly, small force pump doing the
work best by pumping the mixture back
into the vessel continually until il froths,
resembling whipped cream. For appll.
cation put one part Of this TO nine pstta
Of water. II too strong the foliage viii
be injured.
The next best for like purpose is soap
suds, whale-oil soap being best.
Persian insect powder 10 good for lice,
eec. and not poisonous to lung animals'
Discussion.
In answer 10 questions Prof Gillette
said that for the Red spider, water ID
used in the hot-house where most damage
il done by it. Out Of doors; spray with
emu1sions. There are number OF good
sprayers and they could be get from any
OF tho Denver implement dealers.
The Twig Borers does NO harm worth
mentioning o. it dees not appear in great
numbers in any place.
The best way to deal with Squash
buQp is to commence on them a. soon q
they make their appearance and before
they lay any eggs. They will be noticed
In httle groupe around on the leaves and