The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-24
VAR|EGATtD CUTWORM PEST
PROF. PIPER, OF STATE AGRICUL-
TuRAL COLLEGE. TALKS.
Has Been Rare in This state, hut II
Suffered to Breed Becomes Ex-
tremeIy Injurious - Its History
and Method of Coping With IL.

Special Ilspatcn 10 the POSt-lntsiIlRencer
PULLMAN, July 23.-Numerous COM
plants have come from Western Wash
ington of late regarding the worm that
Is now destroying garden plants of every
kind. Prof. Charles V. Piper. entomolo-
sfst OF the Agricultural College and
School of Science has looked into the
matter as far as 1t has been possible
under the circumstances, and in an in
terview today said:
From specimens received the pest
proves TO be the well known. varlegated
cutworms, the larva of a moth known TO
entomologists as Peridroma saucia- The
original home OF this insect is probably
hgr0Ps sco SS II Is D ba 5s
and ' IN G Canada N In R ISIS and in in 1895 !,
caIifornia nnd IN sss was 20 destrpetlve
TO potatoes in Arkansas. Many other in
stances of its ravages are on record, and
taken altogether It is one of the most
The insect has a wide range OF food
plants, attacking almost all sorts. OF gar
as purslane. dock. pigweed. etc. and even
climbing the trunks of apple, cherry,
maple. elm and other trees and feeding
few plants that II wifi not feed on If
driven 10 II by hunger.
Has Been Rare I'm This state.
Heretofore the insect has been quite
rare one in this state. Our collections
show speemens fr9m SeattIe ost }skt nan,
tured in June and July. Only one OF me
specimens Is reared oo one. and ms
emerged September ISIS Mv,l the ana dd1 ibs
comparative rarity OF the insect In pre-
vious years may be gathered from the
fact that Of many thausa ana OF mo,ns
light traps. only two individuals were or
the insect under discussion. one taken
June 90 the other July I! While these
dot ms
nection with the evidence furnished py
the present remarkable outbreak. II In
in this state is probably much, the same
as has been ascertained elsewhere.
Life History OF Insect.
From these observations the life-his-
tory of the insect is as foliows' Inc
eggs are. laid in the early spring anu
these adult moths were reared by Riley.
Lintner and others at various dates from
June 20 TO July 3 In all the previous Sr
lea, the damage has been done by this
spring brood OF worms. There are no
previous instances on record OF a secon -,
America. though such have been recorded
in England From this second brood IN
England adults were reared IN s Seps,,etm,per
however this second brood probably
passes the winter in the pupa stage the
adults emerging IN ga. early sPr pns ia yerV
snantv and If is to be hoped that the
present remarkable outbreak Will enable
observers TO clear up the matter.
Present Outbreak Phenomenal.
'aThe present outbreak of the insect Is
phenomenal. and Judging from tne rec
ords of the insect elsewhere, ana its pre-
vious history in this state. Is not nkeiy
20 be duplicated In many years.
Judging from the reports received anu
the specimens sent in. II Is probable tnat
the bulk Of the damage is already done;
Most OF the worms received are ,uis
grown and some have already pupaten
In our breeding cages. H. however, tnere
are yet a good many of the worms INA.
are small. the plants should De spr pa,,s
green For the cabbage use the Dry
method: for other plants the wet methoo'
as follows:
Methods of Using Paris Green.
DRY application,-Whe applied dry
the poison should be Thoroughly mixea
with lime or -four, one part OF the poison
10 twenty parts of -four or lime or II tne
apr'> alton is made to ycgetaoles Wnicn
rnnv soon he used for food the mixture
should not be stronger than one part Of
paris green to one hundred parts or hour
or lime Various methods OF applying the
powder are used. simple Gon'rhlea s.1vS
The bottom finely perforated or covered
with n fine wire gauze. This Is fastened
to a handle and with II person can as
tribute the poison as desired TX Is oetter
10 dust early In the morning or late IN
the evening while the leaves are wet with
dew In order that the mixture may ad-
here more readily to the plant.
wet application.-This method = mnch
preferred IA the great majority or cases.
The poison is applied as a spray using
one pound OF Paris green TO lfD to 20 gal-
Ions OF water for such trees as apples,
pears etc. But for peach and plum trees
and other plants with delicate foiiage
which IN very susceptible TO the poison,
| the mixture should not be stronger than
| one pound OF Paris green 10 no or Sn
gallons Of water, pailful or TWO OF
| fresh lime water should be added 10 every
30 gallons of the mixture 10 prevent the
poisrn from scaldinR the foliage In pre-
parfnr the mixture the Paris green should
| be mixed into fine paste Win small
| amount Of water. Il should then De
strained thoroughly ana the bulk OF water
added The lime may be added TO the
/ paste before straininR. In amount equal
| to the amount ~ poison used, instead 81
| added to the mixture as above recon-
| meneed The mixture must be kept
| well stirred during the spraying
! Hand Picking.
THE gathering ~ the worms by hand
/ ana then destroying them s. sometimes
/ ,.rv practicable. and ia the case OF small
/ garden plots b. much 20 be preferred.
I While the work ~ much more Iaeortous,
{ thr results are Immediate
/
Arvnnnn