New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-13
ARMY WORMS Not FEARED HERE.
THEY PREFER THE RICH FEAsTs OFFERED BY
THE GREEN FIELDS.

THEY PREFER THE RICH FEAsrs OFFERED BY
THE GREEN FIELDS.
Professor Edrnund b. southwick, entomolosist
Of the city parks does not share the anxiety which
has been expressed by people lost the dreaded
army worm may decide 20 move its hordes upon
this city
ut Is true ~ course" he -n,h yesterday. THAT
the Il always present here 70 some extent
IN fact. I have three Of the pupa In my
pocket now which picked up this morning" He
took out small vial half filed with prussic acid.
IN which three little reddish brown cylinders were
Immersed. II separated these from the cocoons
with which they surrounded" continued the
entomoogist and killed them with the acid II
let alone they would have developed into the moth.
which flies and lays it's eggs by night. 1t Is early
yet for the army go into the chrysals
state. for IT does not usually spin its Of
earth and grass until August
81 have read the dispatches from various points
regarding the destruction which the worm is ac-
complishng in this State. They are. perhaps. a 1T
tie exaggerated though. from what I have seen
myself in New-Jersey. I can appreciate what the
insect can do in the way n devourng But do
not think that We in the city need to fear any
inroad. The army worm prefers grain to any other
food and consequently there would be induce
ment for 1t TO come TO New-York. As long It can
find the farmers wheat and rye fields and the
fresh young grass Of the pastures which Is an
other favorte morsel II will be likely TO leave
them for the city pavements and what little green
IL could find here. X does eat the foliage OF
trees unless II is exceedingly hungry and deprived
OF everything else. Personally have never seen
the worm higher than about ten or twelve feet
on a tree trunk. II seems 70 get discouraged at
about that point and either drops OF to the ground
cnes TO the bark and dries up there. II has
never made Its appearance in any numbers in the
parks except at one time up at Riverside, where
there were enough OF the worms to cause some
sd ,h,t
here with a pest which would seriously injure the
grass. I should have the lawns thoroughly rolled
from time to time to kill the pupa and also spray
the worms with poisonous solution.
The sparrow is great enemy Of the army
worm and ~ find II especially suited to it's
taste. Here have comparatively few OF the
insects. and the birds devour nearly all there are
though, In Of numbers such reported
from the country places. their work would be OF
almost value. Like most other insects the
is infested with numberess tiny para
sites which doubtless do something toward keep
ing its numbers down
The worst plague OF the worms that saw
a few years ago In New-Jersey. They had
just made their way into wheat Geld when the
grain cut. suddenly depriving them OF their
loss. and swarmed the stalks and stubble in
thousand eating with remarkabe rapidly every
sown with grass and cloverseed between the wheat
stalks This had come up to a height of three
inches and the worms turned to it as soon as they
had finished the " heat In short time the ground
brown and bare. the grass being taken of as
closely from the surfac" a. II II had been shaved
From the field the worms proceeded TO a vegetable
garden 10y. where they ruined long rows OF
oabbages. peas and IL fact. everything that
showed green above the ground.
1T is old idea that these insects appear in
greatest numbers after dry season fkis can
doubtless be- explained by the fact that In the fall
when things in general beginning 10 be dry
and withcred. he worms congre gate In all The
wet places they ind in order 10 feed on the
rank grass. A. they always choose low swampy
ground. II there heavy fall and winter rains
thes. spots flooded. and the eggs OF next years
worm crop destroyed. II. however. the fall winter
and early spring should BE- dryer than usual The
nests not disturbed much and the broods i'm
the next summer are correspordngly larger
As with all insects. the best time 10 get rid
o: army l. before they some said AR
Southwick. paradoxicaly. The farmers have
chiefly themselves TO blame Tor the immense
Swarns which are running their fields II NOR
attention were paid TO cleaning up the neglected
pasture lots marShy stretches wpedy thlrke.s and
over grown fence corners. there would be no breed
ins places left for the worms Every square rod
OF the farm ought 10 be gone in the fall and
carefully cleared OF all rubbish and rank growth
The grain fields should be- burned over and W.,
places ought TO be drained. The leaves and txigs
" hcn drop from the trees a. a mat TO cor |
ceal many insects. and for that they should
be raked away. This method Of preventing The |
trouble In advance, by keeping the farm In proper
condition Is the true secret of disposing OF IN.
worms. II seems impossible make the owners |
appreciate the value of this plan enough TO follow
il up thoroughly. Until they do IL Will be sur |
prisng II the insects do not take advantage of |
their opportunities