New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-23
INSECTS IN THE PARKS.
EXTERMNATTNG LATE CROP OF CATER
AR+WESTCHESTER COUNTY
TREES SUFFER

Nj Southwick. the entoruologist. who may be
called the everything destiny CT the insects OF the
city parks. has no dull season in his work. His
force is busy at all times OF the year preserving
the trees and shrubbery which it has required so
much money and tine TO produce. Just al present
they are spraying the trees for the late crop OF
caterpiIars and minute insects ike leaf rollers
leaf skeletonizers and scale insects. These inJru
sve little citizens Of the park keep eating for two
months longer Then during the months when the
trees lea1ess. the force will brush them down
with steel brushes. TO remove the cocoons in which
TIE pests are alternating. The winters work is
the nest important Of all in relation to the follow
irg summer
Trees and sh-ubbery IN city parks have many
more enemies TO contend with than those In the
forests The reason IS that every park is planted
with specimens from all over the world. When they
are imported insects are imported with them. The
insect does not encounter here the special
enemy which keeps 1t down IN its own habitat
and thrives Justify than when at home Then
there are not half many birds in the city parks
IS there are In the country. Very few birds fire.
Quent the smaller parks Central Park is big
enough for them live happily. but the sparrows
drive them away The sparrow himself is totally
useless, as aid TO the gardener. being seed
eating bird Since he Is never happy when
rnaltreattng other bird. II might be supposed
that he would devote little OF his fiery energy to
the destruction OF worms and slugs But this might
&C some good 70 somebody. contingency which the
sparrow carefully avoids. However. he hardly
be blamed for not eating the hairy caterpilars for
there only two birds who VIII do that-the orr
ole and the cuckoo. But II the caterpillar is too
disgusting 70 tempt many animals tastes. he has a
vegetable enemy, fungus which grows over him
and overpowers him. Ike the white fungus which
ore often sees spread about dead fly the win
dow pane
HUNDREDS OF SYCAMOREs DYING.
Parasitic fungi are the most virulent enemies
Ct the trees AZ present. Sycamore trees are dying
b. the hundreds from them all through West
chester County. There are many different species
for the different trees but al have the same effect
They eat out The green portion Of the leaf as if II
had been burned out
There are other fungoUs srowths that VIII take
root wherever they find the tiniest scar opening
IN the trunk Thence they will worm their way
al through The free. killing it in few years. The
eTcrescences observed upon the trunks are the
flowers Of these parasitic growths. They viii even
take root in railroad ties other lumber left ex
posed, rendering is unsoUnd for use. a few years
ego nearly the whole interior OF building on
Park-sve. had 20 be removed before its com
piston. owing to the work Of the fungi The fer
rnentetion Of the sap in the wood makes Just
moisture enough 70 support this parasitic life and
create dry rot in the lumber. Trees blown down
II the forest those that are honeycombed by
this growth. Consequently II is most important
protect every opening on the tree, and the park
tar LIQUID celuloid. One Of the greatest in
igries done by The insects Is by boring into the
wood and thus making il foothold for the fungus
A personally conducted tour about Mr.. South
Wicks room al the arsenal is an introduction into
another world Insects are the strangest Of all
created beings and the stories Nj. Southwck tells
Of them ne strolls from case 70 case surpass
any fairy tale written.
There the mud dauber' wasps. for in
stance who were the first masons- Numbers OF
their little clay houses are fixed in cases One
can see them az any uudhole all summer. and even
Yet. for they are busy housing the brood which
viii come out next spring. They roll up a little
bail OF wet clay, ike very small pea, and fly
with il TO any board or surface which they have
chosen and previously moistened with saliva They
build up a little mound. which they leave hollow
inside forming a snug little house. This interior
thev mack fun OF spiders and in the midst Of the
mass they deposit their larve. The spiders are
not killed Not at all Madam Wasp proposes 10
provide flesh meat for her interesting little family
So she merely stings the spiders right in the nerve
centre where II paralyzes them The big bunter,
who has laid in wait for many flies. is mo-
tioness and helpless. but he lives until the baby
wasps wake Up and proceed 70 eat him alive. The
wssp's larder be plainly seen in Mr.. South
wick's specimens. The marks Of Madam Wasp's
teeth. also. wnere she laid On the clay. and the
little break where her mud gave out and she
brought more. and began just where she left OFF.
ne inside Of the sleeve of sealskin Jacket. Il
alng IN q where the window left open
crack. Madam Wasp found il out. and decided
mat this would be good place for ch!ldren-safe.
gllet and warm She brought her clay laboriously
rom the ground two stories down. stung her
ssiaers and packed them in securely. laid her
sna went on her way rejoicing. The cloak was not
,s1areo at all. and the thanked her for pro-
wing such pretty specimens.
THE PAPERMAKING WASP.
an, IN his long journey upward. has evidently
.u'efifed some Of his handy ways from his insect
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