The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-11-24
TWO IMPORTANT INSECTS.
rh. Forest Tent Caterpillar and the Hes
sion Fly.

| st0n Fly.
The forest tent caterpillar is the in
sect that has been SO abundant this
spring throughout the central and east
ern portions OF the state. The cater
pillars resemble the common apple
tree tent-caterpillar except that they
have row Of cream white spots down
the back instead of a white stripe as
has the apple-tree tent-caterpillar.
| They do not build nest. They feed
upon the foliage OF large variety OF
forest trees, especially maple, elm and
Eastwood, also various kinds of fruit
trees.
The caterpillars spin oblong, white
cocoons In any convenient place, along
the fences, in the grass, under rubbish,
on the trunks Of the trees or partially
concealed in a leaf which has been
drawn about the cocoon. This is done
during the first two or three weeks in
June In about ten days brown
moth will escape from each healthy
cocoon. Except in the most northern
sections Of the state all will probably
have escaped by the first of July. In a
few days the females lay their eggs
They are placed on the smaller twigs
in masses, reaching nearly or quite
around the twig, abruptly rounded at
each end and covered with a glisten-
ing, frothy varnish. Each mass con-
tains about 200 eggs. The caterpillars
do not come from the eggs until the
following spring.
Every healthy cocoon that Is de-
stroyed means one less moth, and as
a fair percentage will be females each
one of which will probably lay two.
hundred eggs. It Is apparent that col
iecting and destroying Of the cocoons
means a decided decrease in the num-
ber of caterpillars next year. True,
some useful parasites will be destroyed,
but not enough to balance the good
that will be done by destroying the
healthy cocoons.
Now that school Is out give the
girls and boys chance to earn little
spending money by collecting the CO.
coons at so much per hundred. AS an
interesting lesson in nature study en-
courage them to keep a few cocoons
Tn covered box and watch for the
moths. Some will produce wasp-like
insects instead of moths. These are
papasites and are useful because they
destroy the caterpillers. The work
must be done at once as the moths
will soon escape and then it will be
too late.
Early in July the egg masses may
be found on the twigs. They will
show palmer when the leaves are gone
this fall. OF course it will be imprac-
tical in most cases to collect them
from the forest trees. But unless the
shade treies are too large they can be
easily found. On fruit trees 1t is little
trouble to find them. These egg masses
should be searched for especially
when pruning the trees. Whenever
found they should be destroyed ali
once.
In collecting, the cocoons and egg
masses Of the apple-tree tent caterpil-
lar will undoubtedly be often taken for
those Of this species; but as the former
also Is very troublesome species, 1t
will be an additional benefit to have
hem destroyed.
A bulletin discussing the forest tent |
caterpillar will be issued in the near |
future and will be sent free to all who
lecide 1t.
The Hessian fly attacks wheat, rye
and barley 1t is widely distributed
n both Europe and America. It is an
I'D enemy to the farmer. 1t is present
very year in varying abundance ac-
'ording to the season. This season 1t
s making itself felt in the wheat
sections of the state.
The adult insect Is minute fly about
lalf as big as mosquito. The egg
Iepositing, the development of the
naggot, and the number of broods
'ary much with the climate. We are
undoubtedly safe In saying that in the
Innate Of New York the life history
substantially as follows: The adults
hat appear In the autumn deposit
heir eggs upon fall wheat. The eggs
re laid upon the upper surfaces of
he leaves. They hatch in about four
ays. The maggots work their way
own between the sheaths to a point
the stalk near the surface of the
round. Here the pupariums or "fax
eeds' are formed, the larvae remain
ig inactive in thenf> during the winter,
ut pupating and Issuing as adults the
spring. Within day or two,
r possibly few hours. eggs are laid
'r the summer brood which form
uparriums c'fiax seeds') before har-
est time. remaining on the stubble
uring the summer. producing adults
/ autumn.
The effect upon the infested plant is
} cause stunted growth and to
eaken the stalks 80 that the wheat
,dges easily. On young wheat the
resence Of the insect is clearly indi-
Ned by the swelling near the base
the stalk.
The fact that the insect remains In
le stubble all summer affords an ex-
client opportunity for combating 1t.
ne insect can be destroyed by burning
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