The times., 1897-06-30
TO SHADE TREES
The Destructive Elm Leaf Beetle
and others Of Its Kind.
AUTHORITIES SHOULD ACT
The Present Limited Appropriation
Prevents the Parking Commission
Habits of the Insects and How
They Can BE Exterminated.

1lfet can BE
The question OF proper work against the
defoiiation of the beautiful shade trees "f
the National Capital by destructive insects
naturally becomes a very important one
at this season of the year. Itis during Tue
month of June that these pests generally
attract the greatest attention. During he
past two weeks the ravages of W hat IS
knewn as the elIn-leaf beetle have been
very great. These have been eating away
the IuXuriant foliage OF the spreading eirrls
iii Hiauy parts OF the city, especially tin'se
il the vicinity of Lafayette Square and in
the Capitol grounds. The real extent of
tn. damage already done cannot be seen,
because the leaves OF the trees are kept
green by the present condition OF the
weather. However, In several Weeks
time the weather will have become :nuch
warmer and then the dying OF the fOiiage
of many Of the most beautiful elns Of the
city will reveal the damage caase1 by
the workings OF these elmleaf beetles.
One OF the most striking features of the
month June has been the abundance IN
many Eastern cities of these insects. In
almost every low-lying town from Char
lotte, N. c., north 10 Albany, n. y, the
eln,-leaf beetle has defoliated the English
and American elms. The authorities in
a number of these cities have taken the
alarm and instituted active remedial
work While the month of June may be
called an exceptional one, as regards the
i'm these n
sects are always present and do certain
amount OF damage each season, and when
an exceptional season comes the autbori-
ties seldom find themselves prepared %
engage in an INTEL gent aud cornprehcn-
sive fight.
The parking commission of this city is
not in a position to do mu ch to preveat
the ravages of the inse cts, owing TO the
small appropriations that are made by
Congress. The sum of $4,000 was ap-
propriated last year, but before three
months had passed something like $4,000
was expended in repairing the damage done
to the trees by the storm of last September,
and this sunforeseenand entirely unexpected
occurrence caused great deficiency in the
already snail appropriation. According TO
the estimate OF the parking board last year
the lowest amount which they thought
necessary to properly take care OF the
trees was about $40 ,090in round numbers
In their report they said: UNLESS the ap-
propriaiions are in creased in proportion 10
the number of trees it will be Impossible
to keep the trees in proper condition. The
entirenumber of trees about Z 5, 900, shonid
receive some attention yearly, which is
impossible with the present limited ap-
propriations'
In regard to the elm-leaf beetles, the
report continues: "These pests occur dur
ing the month of June, at q time when the
funds of the parking commission are about
exhausted. Several trees they have done
considerable damage before they could be
successfully attacked for want OF money.
So, although they are fully aware of the
presence of the beetles and the damage done
by them, there is no possible way by
which the insects may be eXtermInated.
Times reporter called at the AgIicnf-
tural Department yesterday afternoon and
had an interview with Entomologist l.. Q.
Howard. N. s, on some of the features OK
the shade-tree insect problem, with special
reference to the elm-leaf beetle. he said:
"The imported elm-leaf beetle is ma
tive of Southern Europe and the Mediter-
raaeanislands. tits abundant and destruct-
i've In the southern parts of France and Ger
many and lin Italy and Austria. This beetle
is found rarely. in England, Sweden and
north Germany, and gradually becomes less
numerous and destructive tow ard the north.
AS early as 1897 it was imported into the
United States at Baltimore, and Is now
found as far south as Charlotte, N. c. From
this point 1t ranges northward in the At
lantic cities as far as Providence, r. L. The
common English elm is its fayorlte food,
and the American, or white, elm is at
tackled with avidity.
1.-THE eim-leaf beetle passes the winter
In the adult, or beetle, condition in cracks
In fences, under the loose bark of trees,
inside window blinds, in fact, wherever
it can find shelter. AS soon as the buds of
the trees begin to swell in the spring the
beetles issue from their winter quarters
and mate, and as soon as the buds burst
they begin to feed on the leaflets. The
feeding is continued by the beetles until
they are fairly well grown, and during he
latter part of this feeding the females are
engaged in laying their eggs. The eggs
arc placed on the lower side o ( the leaves,
in vertical clusters. They are eiongate in
shape, orange in color, and the surface
covered with beautiful little hexagons.
The egg state lasts about a week. The lar
vac as soon as hatched feed on the under
surface of the leaf, gradually skeleton
izing it,. They reach their full growth in
froDrfifteentc tc twenty days, and then either
crawl down the trunk of the tree to the
ground or drop from the overhanging
branches.
''At the surface of the ground they trans
form to naked orange-colored pupae, q
little over quarter of an inch in length,
anI remain in this state about ten days,
at the expiration of which time they are
transformed into beetles. The difference
between the early work OF the beetles
and the later work of the larvae is recog-
niZable at glance. The beetles eat en-
tirely through the leaves and make COM
plete, irregular holes. The larvae eat from
below, skeletonizipg the leaf. In Wash
ington there are invariably two genera
tions annually, the beetles developed from
the eggs laid by the overwintered beetles
themselves laying eggs In July. The adults
issuing from these eggs make their ap-
pearanca in August
What can be efficiently and economic
ally done by the city as a remedy against
these insects?" was asked Mr.. Howard.
1.-The only thoroughly satisfactory safe
guard consists in spraying the trees with
an arsenical solution. My experience in
Washington leads to the conclusion that
it Is important to spray the trees once