Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1900-07-27
The Cut.worm Pest.

to have made its appearance in this
and adjacent counties, last week, have
now developed in such countless num-
bers and over such \ widespread area,
~ to leave no doubt Of its identity
with the scourSe which is noted for
its exceedingly destructive work and
the rapidity with which it is done.
Many fine gardens in this city have
been completely ruined by this vora-
cious worm.
The army worm is the caterpillar of
Leucama unipuncta, which periodical.
iy ravages wheat and other grain
fields of the Middle and Northern
States, travelling in great armies
which gives them their usual name.
The moth appears late in summer, or
early in Autumn, when it hibernates,
after laying its eggs along the inner
side of the terminal blades OF grass,
or between the stock and the sur.
rounding sheath. Farther south it hi
bernates in chrysalis state, laying its
eggs in April and May, but later
northward. The eggs hatch, the
young appearing eight or ten days
after. The worms ere most destruc-
tive in wet summer, succeeding a
dry one, when wheat is in the milk.
The caterpillar state lasts month
the clrysalis state two weeks, unless it
hibernates. The worm is from one to
one and a half inches long, the head
covered by network of continent
spots and along the middle of the
head run two lines, diverging at each
end. A light colored wave.line Just
above its legs is succeeded by darker
one, then light one edged with two
thread lines. The upper part of the
body is dark. with an interrupted
thread running along the middle of
tie back. He might by stretch OF
fancy be regarded as a beautiful
"cuss," were it not for that creepy
feeling which attends contemplation
OF anything which crawls, doubtless
owing to the shock which overcame
grandmother Eve when she found
that che had been bamboozled by a
snake.
The moth which produces this ra.
pacious plunderer is of rusty grayish
brown color, sprinkled with black
specks. Its body is about half an
inch long, and the wings when ex.
tended measure little more than an
inch.
The popularity of this worm is that
it does its destructive work at night
and for that reason is classified with
the moctuid@ species of worm-pests.
Some of our city gardens appeared in
the full vigor of luxuriant life al
nightfall to be revealed in q state oil
utter ruin the next morning. The
caterpillars could be found, however
on slight search, concealed in the
torn leaves, or burrowing in the
ground, to begin another attack on
what might be left soon as Night drew
her sable curtain to conceal the work
of INSCRIPTIONS depredators. Some
OF our people have tried the expert.
ment Of giving the chickens range OF
the infested gardens, taking their cue
probably from the Kansas method of
fighting the grasshoppers, few years
ago, by turning turkeys, chickens and
geese into the growing crops. They
found that while it apparently exter-
minated the worms, it destroyed the
garden plants as we'll, from the predi-
lection OF fowls to peck and scratch,
and inability to do so with the dis
elimination necessary to preserve the
one and destroy the other.
Paris green spray is recommended
an effective poison for the pest, but a
safer exterminator which Chinese gar.
deners claim is effective is spray of a
strong solution OF tobacco, boiling the
leaves till the spray carries q heavy
per cent. of the nicotine.
Prof. Piper, Entomologist of the
State Agricultural College and School
OF Science, says the species now so
prominently before our people is the
variagated cut-worm known to the
Scientific world as Peridronaa Saucia.
which is supposed to have originated
In Europe. Its first record this side
OF the Atlantic was in l84l. It now
appears at times on all parts of this
continent. In 1898 and 1895. it
caused considerable damage to grapes
in California, and in 1883 was destruc.
tive OF potatoes in Arkansas. Many
other instances of its ravages are on
record and taken together shows it TO
be one of the most destructive of cut
worms. 1t has a wide range of food,
and there are few plants it will not
feed upon if driven to it by hunger.
1t has even been known to ascend for.
est and orchard trees and feed upon
the foliage. The Professor saws the
extent of the present outbreak of the
worm is phenomenal and Judging
from its previous history in this State
and elsewhere, is not likely to be re.
peated in many years. He thinks
that the main damage is already done.
most of the worms submitted for ex.
animation being full grown. If, how.
ever, there are places where the worms
are still small, the plants should be
sprayed thoroughly with Paris green,
using the dry method for cabbapes