The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1901-11-08
Some injurious Insect

The depaftmento Of agriculture ana hor-
tieulture has had more inquiries regarding
insects luxurious TO agricultural plants
during this season than usual People
throughout the Territory have been
calling for information about the insects
destroying their ccops Generally they
want to know what the insect is. aud
how 70 destroy it, and this is what most
concerns t40 lafalss aoout lEa insUc,.
The increase Of insect pests means
more work and more expence to the ag-
riculturist and if the insect Is allowed TO
run its course the crops may be materi-
ally reduced aud some time entirely de.
stroyed. It is nc ealy matter to check
the rsyages Of insects. aud in order to
more edectually fight them, one should
have some knowledge ot their feeding
habite, at least whether they are biting
or sucking insects. II they belong to
the latter group, then a poison that kills
by contact must be applied such as
kerosene emulsion, whale oil or sOmo
other strong wash. On the other hand
il they are biting insects, some arsenite
must be used. Paris green and
white arsenic are common remedies
Sometimes, however, the eating habits
of the insects are such that the direct
application OF the inaecticide ie not prac-
ticable, as ia the case of the Roasting
ear worm which conceals itself in the
ear. Iha following are some of the
more recent insect pests which have
been troublesom during the season.
The cabbage bug, better known as the
harlequin cabbage bug, or calico black
is an oval, black bug, gaudily cOlored
with orange dots This is a sucking
bug and one OF the most serious pests to
cabbage There is nothing known
which will kill the bug without iniuring
the plant At the Experiment Station
this bug was very bad on the cabbage
this summer, and 20 aDd % per ce0t
kerosene solutions were tested, but with
no effect. Also pure kerosene was tried,
which did kill many of the insects, but
at the same time the cabbage plants were
injured Picking of the insect is some
times doue. but such an operation is
slow and expensive. The over wintering
insects can be largely destroyed by fall
blowing, and 90 doubt by winter irri
cation too This important point one
should not loose sight OF.
The Aphids, or plant lice, Of which
there are many species, have also been
very abundant on cabbage. ioaee. melons
and on some American plume The
melon Aphis did some damage ia the
Mesilla Valley, and in some parta Of
eastern New Mexicoi it is hegining 90 toe
"a source of trouble 90 melon growers
Like MAN. other sucking insests. the
aphida can be destroyed by kerosene.
Al the Experiment Station. the cabbag g
aphis was killed with a 20 per cen &
Kerosene solution, without iniurng the
plant. while over at Mr. Frank Bucks
orchard Ia Mosilla the plum tree aphie
which was found in large numbers on
the new and succulent growth Of the
POOLS Pride plum. iid not succOmb 90
ten per cent kerolene mixture. but
were an killed WITH q 10 per cent go
luton, without iniudng the foliage
The clover mite, sometimes known as
the "lied Spider and the lhrip were
found by the writer aal spring 10 some
oi The orchards in the Nimbfea valley
in Grant county. The remedy Tor the
mite ia kerosene amulaion. thongherly
applied 90 the trees in tue late winter
while Ihrip also yields TO tine same
remedy diluted ten times Plenty of
cold water. where t is advisable aets
well on a small SCALE The Iipaid
lsalminer has also made ita appearance
0n the grape 10 some parts of northern
New Mosico in most eaaoa the as
p'icaiion Of araenitea ia satisfactory
Aa che Territory becomes more thick
ly settled and a larger variety ~ sror
ale raised we may expect moro Insecla
These, a8 fnlo HIll remlIu oHuffnq
more or lesa trouble. hul lle Destructive
work di mR0y of them eau fe greatly
reduced DI IudIcloue spraying Hffa8
bu|liun No. 60 leN Nlioo College oi
aet'pnlfufe