The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-25
THE PLUri CURCULIO.
Habits Of the Little Beetle and How
TO Destroy it.

Following Is the latest bulletin issued
by II. j. Fernald, Economic Ioologist,
Department Of Agriculture Of Pennsyl-
vania, concerning the plum curculio;
THE PLUM CURCufIo.
This insect is a serious pest to persons
raising plums, as IL often destroys half
the crop. IL must be treated in diff
fercnt way from the Apple worm, as its
habits are different. II Is responsible
for the loss of many thousands of dollars
each year to the fruit growers Of the
State.
LIFE HISTORY.
The Curculo Is little beetle, less
than half an inch long II passes the
winter in any protected place IL can find
and comes out In the spring about the
time the leaves first appear. At this
time IL is little beetle rather less than
a quarter of an inch long, and with II
snout on its head. IL feeds on the
leaves of the plum and also on the ap-
pie, pear, peach and cherry. When the
plums are set, the insect cuts n little
curved slit in the plum, and close TO it.,
in little hole, lays an egg. This egg
soon hatches into Il little grub, which
eats in to, aud aroord the stone. When
the grub Is full grown latter about
three wecks) it leaves the plum, which
has usually fallen OF by this time, goes
into the ground, where it remains quiet
for time, then comes out as the full
grown insect again, to go into hiding
until the following spring. Thus, there
is only one brood year.
wHATro DO FOR IT.
1t Is not possible to reach in and kill
the grub, as IL is inside the fruit, but,
fortunately, there are other times in
the lie of the insect when IL can be at
tackled with success. The first of these
is i,efore the eggs are laid, when the in.
sect is eating che young leaves. Before
the aower buds open, therefore, spray
the trees with London Purple. TC
make this, mM pound Of the London
Purple with pound Of fresh lime aud
add water at the rate Of one pound oI
the Purple toil50 gallons OF water. Add
enough Of this water first, to slakc the
lirre, afterwards the rest. II peach
trees are sprayed, $50 gallons of water
sbsuld be used DO not spray Will,
the trees are in blossom, but when the
blossoms have fallen spray again, choos
ing rather aeool day, il possible.
df any Of Che leaves turn brown ant
die after spraying it means that th,
, spray was too strong. In such cases, ado
more water 10 the mixture next time.
A second way Of treating this insec'
is by spreading large white cloth on ;
light frame, under the tree at morning
or evening and jarring the tree sudden
ly The insects at these times do nc
fly readily, but drop onto the cloth am
can be killed. This will dispose %
many and it should be done shout tn,
same time in the spring Us the spraying
A third way to handle the Curculio d
by picking mp and burning the falkal
plums every day, beginning about ,
week after spraying for the last time
thiswill catch the young grubs in tn
plums which the other methods missed
and will reduce the number OF inseet
the fOllowingyear.
These methods have all been triet
and werk we'll, the frequent result he
ing that instead OF saving one plum "a
every twenty-five that form, aboS
twenty are saved
'THE SEVENTEEN YEAR LOCUST.
One brood of this insect is due Ia
Pennsylvania andshould be found arount
Philadelphia and in Dauphin, Lancas
ter, Northampton and WestmorelanG
counties, Exact places in the Stat,
where it will appear are not known
and If any person who finds it will re
port the fact to the State Zoologist
Depastment of Agriculture, Harrisburg
Pa, it will greatly aid in getting at the
distribution of this brood in the State.