The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-04
INSECTS INCEST NEW YORK.
ROnches, FIenS, and CaterpiIInrs
Give GOthamftes Trouble.

Give Gothamites Trouble.
NEW YORK, Sept. 4-Never before has
| New York experienced such a complca-
ton OF insect Affections as the city is now
enduring
The parks are being destroyed by the
caterpillar Of the white spotted tussock
moth Harlem households are being raw
| aged by an extraordinary plague OF
| reaches, while the festive flea IS swarm
ing on the streets and sidewalks seeking
for whom he may devOur.
The roach there is looked upon as an
unavoidable nuisance. But this summer
the roach family is evidently expecting a
roach census enumeratOr shortly, and.
filled with civic pride has sent the fat
abroad that roach babies are fashionable
Reaches swarm up and down as the
dumbwaiter comes and goes with grocer
7 les or garbage. They flock by the mil
lions on the air shafts side. They eat the
paper from the parlor wall. They peer
| from the pictures, sally across the wash
tubs. choke up the sink. Here they come
there they go! Not in companies, but
The voice OF the woman who declares
across the air SHAFT that I'VE never had
single one til them people moved IN
downstairs Is hushed.
Never before have New York's parks
suffered from Caterpillars as this year.
1 The tree trunks are dotted thickIy with
the white COCOOnS Of the white spotted
tussOck moth. The branches of tres
and shrubbery are denuded OF leaves.
while hanging. each from his individual
life line Of hlmy thread, millions Of gym
nastic caterpillars sway in the sunshine
doing merry stunts Of ground and lofty
Jumbing TO the great discomfort OF pass
crs-by and the Chagrin Of the heads OF
the Bureau Of Entomology, Department
OF Public Parks
In Mount Morris and Central Parks
| the CaterDilaTS have almost ruined the
foliage. besides being a most unpleasant
/ Madison Square and Union Square that
have suffered most In these places the
caterpiH MS have not left a leaf. and
now they are attacking the bark Of the
trees.
The walks are deserted, for from every
branch. as the lines Of knOtted rope hang
to warn trainmen Of tunnel OF low bridge
/ the cateTpillars sway and swing on the
ends OF cCbweb strings. And nothing will
make them let go except an opportunity
OF dropping down the necks Of nervous
Even the chronic park sitter. for whom
hail storm has no terrOrs. quails before
the caterpillar
The caterpillar. besides his quaint pc
cuiiarities Of tight-rdpe walking and
hand-Over-haud climbing, Is Of a most
aggressive personality. In countless
numbers he Wriggles along the surface
OF the ground and across the asphalt
walks carrying what appears to be a
inrl mel tie. but which is carried at the
wrnnf end Of his person 10 be Of any
visUdl benefit. He will not De deviated
from his path. Be II man o. bro or
beast that gets in what he deems his
right Of way. he does not hesitate or
turn aside but keeps straight on and
either surmcunts the obstacle or else
is crushed as fiat as the man without
millions who attempts TO get into society
This may be douted. but il is a fact
that the Caterpllars have driven the spar-
rows out Of the parks. The sparrows
probably realized they would be ex-
pected 10 eat them and departed in dis
gust.
The eXCaVating for the underground
railroad. buGgists hold. Is Responsible
for the prevalence Of heas In New Yor}l's
streets this summer. On Long Acre
square they are so thick that they can
be sen hopping across the asphalt