Cañon City record., 1900-08-16
rae canksr Wor..

Ths canksr Worn.
Many complaints have been re-
ceived this spring from various localt-
ties In the state In regard to the cam
ker worm, looping catapillar. or meas
uring worm. a. the above tasect u
called The worms are easily distin-
guished from the other ordinary pests
of the orchard by their peculiar loop
ing or measuring node Of travel;
hence the common names They are
more properly known a. canker
worms, and can be found feeding on
apple, cherry, plum, and other fruit
trees and also ON elm and other shade
trees-
The eggs are deposited IN masses
OF hundred or more on the branches
and trunks of trees ON which the
worms feed; the fall canker worm
laying the eggs In the autumn. the
spring canker worm laying her eggs
usually in early spring In both cases
the eggs hatch while the buds are
expanding, and the larvae feed upon
the Ieaves until full grown When
they occur in large numbers they ire
quently completely defoliate the
trees. When full grown the larvae
are about an inch in length and they
then crawl down the tres or drop
down by means Of = sIlken thread
The adult. of the fall e1hker worm
emerge at about the time the nrst
frosts appear. A few o. the spring
canker worms emerge At this time
also, but the vast majority Of them
remain in the pupa state throughout
the winter and emerge as adults at
the first approach Of warm weather
early the next spring IN all cases
the adult male canker worm has well
developed win9s and can fiy- un-
like most moths. the female canker
worm never has wings at All. and
therefore cannot n.y. She erawb TO
a suitable tree and ascends the trunk
to the limbs above; there she awaits
The male and then deposits her eggs
1t at once becomes evident that II
We can take advantage OF the weak
point In these insects and prevent
the females from crawling up the
trees to deposit their eggs. We can
prevent the injury to the leaves
This has been done In . number Of
ways A band of loose cotton, tied
at the top only. or band OF tin last
enec around the trunk Of the tree. or
band of heavy paper or cloth. on
which is spread tar mixed with Oil
to prevent dying or printers INK.
or even resuss sorghum. viii act a.
barriers and either prevent the insect
~ HAfHh
and hold he-. OF course. one must
take precaution to stop all crevtesA
between the hand and the bark. after
having nrst scraped on all loose bark
where the band II placed When the
females md they cannot crawl up
the tree to deposit their egg. they
vii frequently deposit them 1T ths
hsse OF the tree Or on the weeds near.
and when the young larvae emerge
they will try to crawl up the tree,
and unless every minute ereviee BE-
tween the band and the tree be stop
ped, they will crawl through OF
coarse. one must attend to the bands
properly and keep them covered with
fresh tar or other sticky substance.
The tin or cotton bands. Of course.
need NO 1tlcky suoStAnce On tucA.
since they act ~ barriers by pre-
venting tho insect from getting .
foothola. or BY becoming entangied
In the cotton nbers- The bands must
be applied very early In the fan. and
keps there until late In the winter.
and again very early In the spring
sometimes even in January-and not
removed until summer
TAe best and most satisfactory
method, however. Of combating the
canker worm is by the use Of paris
green One pound Of paris green and
three pounds of lime In one hundred
and twenty-five gallons Of water
should be sprayed ON to the apple
trees BY means Of a force pump and
spray nozzle. This spraying should
be done thoroughly. and every part
well drenchcd- Care should be taken
to keep the liquid constantly stirring.
since paris green does not dissolve In
water and settles quickly. Be sure
and purchase paris green that is pure.
Prof. Stecman- Missouri Agricultural
College. Columbia. Mo.