The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-15

match. The adult tachtna-ny reSem-
bles a rather large house-fy. Hun
dreds and thousands of these flies are
usually seen buzzing about a field In
tested by the army worm and their
presence should be welcomed to the far
mer.
''The extent of the parasitison Of the
Injurious brood of the army worm may
be indicated by two instances from
our personal experience. In 1880 we
timothy grass. in the vicinity of Ports
mouth. Va. A search for hours during
the hot part of the day failed to show
a single worm which did not bear
tachina eggs. In 1882 we visited wheat
fields in the vicinity of Huntsville. Ala.
which Were then being overrun by this
insect. Here although a number of
worms We're noticed which did not
bear tachina eggs. they We're destroyed
by ground beetles to such an extent that
when we attempted to catch an adult
moth little later in the season by
means of trap lanterns and sugar. we
were unable to secure single speci-
men. The entire army had been ami
hilated and it Is worthy Of remark that
in neither of these localities has the
army worm ever been seen since in
injurious numbers. although fourteen
years have elapsed in the one case and
twelve in the other"
State Zoologist Warren has sent out
the following instruction as the best
way of dealing with the army worm:
THE fully developed worm is little
over an inch long. of a gray or dingy
black color, with black stripes and mar
row lines of white on back. The under
surface is of a more or less greenish
color. The head Is smooth and yellowish,
with two black lines running from top
to mouth. 1t has sixteen legs. and those
from the middle of the body are each
marked with a shining black or black
ish band. The worms, when disturbed,
curl themselves up like cut worms and
drop to the ground. They complete their
growth in about one month. at the end
Of which period they burrow into the
ground and each caterpillar changes to
u brown puDa, from which, in two or
three weeks. the moth emerges. The
female moth Is said to lay about $50
eggs. and these hatch in about six days.
ITO prevent their spread. the best au-
thorities recommend the moving OF a
wide swath around the invaded field.
then plow a deep furrow yith the
straight side toward the part to be pro-
tected and at intervals of few feet
make holes with crow bar or dig small
pits into which the worm entrapped In
the ditch will fall. Where the number
of worms is very great and the ditch
become partly filled, plow a second fur
row. throwing the earth over into the
first furOw, thus covering up the
worms and providing a second line Of
defense.
USE OF KEROSENE.
Some authorities recommend the use
of kerosene sorinkled over the worms
entrapped in the ditch and thereby de-
stroying them; Others use slight cover
ing of straw which is set on fire and ac-
compleshes the same result. It's also rec
commended that ordinary fence boards
be set upon edge. end to end, across
their path, and then apply a coating of
tar or Kerosene to this wooden bar
rier, which checks their progress. Some
eItoiloioSistS Tecotiiilehu spraying VI
the grass ahead Of the worms with poi
son. thus poisoning the forage on which
they substst. For this purpose ono
pound of poison to $50 to $50 gallons of
water Is a proper proportion.
The most effective method seems
to he the constructing of a ditch with
the plow as stated, cutting the side next
to the part to be protected perpendicu-
lar, and then attending to the destruc-
ton of the worms as they are entrapped
in the ditch"