The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1896-02-06
ThE FRUIT EARkf BEETLE.


Prof. ID. $. KeIiicott. Department of
Zoology and Ent mo.o-y Ohio state Uni
! versity.
The character of the weather evi.
IDENTIFY has profou infu ence on the
abundance or scarcity of both destruc-
tive and harmless insects. Drought
or unusual rain fall, severe heat or
severe cold, or possibly sudden changes
from one to the other, oubtless great
ly changes the abundance of insects
Most observers must have noticed the
general scarcity of the foliage feeding
forest insects during the past autumn
The writer has been accustomed to
LOOK for them in the fall for several
years past in Central Ohio, and the ab-
>ence of scores of species. AMI the no.
ticable abundance of none, were strik-
ing features tlis year. Was it due to
drought or heat? No one can SAY; the
obvious rela ation to unusual weather
forces itself upon one. Then the cinch
bug comes to mind. always with us in
limited numbers; in the summer of
1895 it was obstructive to wheat and
corn over a wide area of Central
Ohio. Most persons attribute
the sudden increase to the
two past dry summers with
an intervening winter of less than the
usual precipitation. 1t appears also
highly probable tnat another insect
which seems to be rapidly increasing
its destructiveness is in similar man
ner relat directly or in directly to
the past drougnts. This insect. small
brown beetle, scolytus rugulosus, has
been reported from many localities In
the state as doing serious injury to
apple and plum trees.
1t is often comforting to know the
source and cause of an affiiction. 1t
often aids one to meet or prevent ad-
versity. This beetle is from Europe,
but has been known in this country
for several years. In its native coun-
try it appears not, at present. to be
very destructive in orchards, although
stroyer.
Concerning Its habits few state
ments may be made. There are two
broods in Il year, one in early and one
in late summer. The win ter is passed
in the larval or grub state. In
the spring the pupae aad beet
les mature in the burrows in
the bark and sap wood Tie beetles
soon issue and disperse for the purpose
of depositing eggs in fresh field.
They bore into the bark AMI deposit
their eggs for the second brood, which
completes the cycle. The round holes
in the bark of trunks and limbs, or if
plum tree the eXuding gum are sufi-
cient marks of their presence.
1t is held by most investigators that
they attack cnly trees with impaired
vitality, or one that has dead wood or
worms. Once lodged in trunk or limbs
they are pretty sure to remain and
extend their depredatjons until the tree
is destroyed. The first consideration
then is to maintain the health and Wig.
or of the orchard, and, if the beetle
has 4 serious holi of any particular
tree, DESTROY it by fire, if there are
few try to dislcdge or discourage them;
at the same time encouraging the plant
to renewed vigor. 1t is a serious and
apparently an increasing enemy
of orchards and must be met
with determination. Destroying
dead wood and sickly tres
will prove good economy in most cases.
A wash of whale oil soap or kerosene
emulsion or spray of kerosene over
trunk and branches at the time the
beetles are ovipo ,iting may prove OF
some avail in dispensing or checking
them.
One orchard repeatedly examined by
the writer during the past year or
more was seriously attacked by the
bark borer this season. and the trees |
su ffering most were those in which the |
E reria plum tree borer had injured.
The larva of 1Egria l>,'ipes at this sea-
son is about one-half to three-quarters
of al inch long. white with brown
head. and is boring under the bark and
in the superficial wood causing
more or less of it to loosen AMI die. /
These wounds are inviting places for
the sc0Lytus to oviposit. 1t is obvious
that this larger borer that is preparing
the way for the smaller and more de- |
structive one should be DESTROYED be-
fore the advent of the spring brood of
beetles. This should be done ,
with knife ami wire;
done and all the old bark
and wood carefully removed. Perhaps
it would prove advantageous to paint
the wounds made by cutting out these
with glue mingled with paris
green. The tendency OF this would be
to keep out any boring insects until
the tree could repair the wound.
THE real winners OF life are not those
who outstrip the foremost, but those
who help on the hindmost-Dr. WASH
ington GLADDEN..