The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-07-19
WAR ON INSECT PESTS,
\ WAY OF RENDERING PLANTS
7ANEFUL TO THEIR ENEMIES.


galloway at the joint meeting of the
Society for the Promotion of Agricul-
tural Science and the Association of
Economic Entomologists, that plants
may he so cultivated as to change their
chemical constitution. rendering them
either agreeable or baneful to insect
pests, yet without injury to the
plants themselves, suggests the large
possibilities of scientific agriculture
ory, but demonstrated fact. A to-
bacco grower. whose name was not
given, has already put this in prac-
tlce. He analyses his plants and finds
which are nutritious and which are
not so to the insects; and he cultivates
those that will starve out the insect.
His method seems TO depend largely
in the mature and experienced judg-
ment of the grower, varying according
to circumstances. Professor Galloway
suggests the extension of similar
methods to starve out those other
pests. now so destructive. the Hessian
fly in wheat, and the aphld in
pea plants. which. for lack of bet
ter name has been called the green
pea louise. and which has almost
ruined the crop in Maryland for two
years-the Nectarophora destructor.
One of the most instructive papers
read was that of Professor Johnson on
the ravages of this insect and the
fight against it. A small, weak, harm
less-lOoking creature. it came down
on the pea plants in May, 1899. a blight
as silent and as sudden almost as the
destruction of Sennacherib's army
Whole fields turned black and per-
ished, causing the loss of half the
crop. or S3,000,000, and this year
S4,00O000. The insect is viviporous
some are winged. some wingless but
ginning to breed when eleven days
old, they have six to twelve young
daily for nearly month, so that TAX
ing the minimum number, over 100000
will be produced from one in six
weeks. The young are extruded feet
first, born kickers,' and II is several
minutes before the head appears, dur
ing which time they exercise their
feet constantly. As soon as born they
attach themselves to the leaf. and
remain for two days immovable, suck
ing the juice of the plant. which is
converted into sort of honey dew
sticky and tarry. rulnous to clothing
and even to shoes Of persons who go
through the fields So numerous are
they as sometimes to cover the leaf
entirely. A bushel OF them is shaken
down from row of peas ten rods long.
Spraying was at first practiced to
kill them. but this killed also their
peas in rows, and to shake off the in
sects and follow with cultivator,
Their most efficient enemy is the
larya of the Surplus, which devours
them at the rate of one minute, but
these in turn have their enemies. Bas-
sects also prey on the aphids: and GER
tain parasites attack them. A fungus
disease, Empusa, has proved very de-
structive. Their original habitat
seems to have been clover, from which
last year they emigrated to neighbor-
ing pea-fields, with such destructive
results. Professor Johnson stated,
and others in discussion confirmed the
statement, that this insect has ap-
peared in destructive numbers this
year mt many places. Professor Web
ster reports their appearance partic-
ularly in Ohio 1t IL feared that other
regions will share the rate of Mary
land. However. the belief was eX-
pressed by several members that the
insect may disappear as rapidly as 1t
came. Instances in point are not lack
ing. Professor Hopkins few years
ago noted the outbreak of destruct-
i've insect among the evergreen trees
of West Virginia, which has now ut
terly disappeared.
The question of nomenclature Of in
sects as regards the common names
was brought up by criticism by Pro-
fessor Fletcher, of the name of green
pea louse," applied to this insect, as
1t is not louise at all, but an aphid,
and there Is no such plant as green
pea; simply the peas are used when
green; also, the insect thrives on other
plants, and its usual habitat Is clover.
Many other anomalies exist in the
name commonly applied TO insects.
very different names being applied 10
the same insect in different localities.
On the other hand, different insects
are designated by the same name,
causing great confusion. Professor
LOunsberry instanced the Oyster.shell
scale. This resembles the oyster
shells Of this country, but not those
OF South Africa. so the name seems
inappllcable 10 the same scale there.
An amusing instance of multiplication
of names was mentioned in the case
of the harlequin cabbage bug. which
is also called in Maryland THE firebug,
because it destroys vegetation as n a
fire had swept over the country; also
the Catholic bug, because 1t has Il
cross on its back, and the Spanish bug
because 1t has the Spanish colors; four
names in different parts OF the same
State. A committee was appointed
TO have charge of the naming of in
sects, so as to secure uniformity.
The remark was several times made
during the meeting that the entomOlo-
gists are better organized and coop
crate more efficiently in the United
States than any other body of scien-