The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-03-18

pillars about, but an occasional but
terfiy. The most common caterpillar
which awakens from its winter sleep
is a red-furred creature with bands of
black around the body. Every warm
winter day these caterpillars get rest
less and emerge from their hiding
places There are several species OF
common butterflies which come forth
i'm winter and fit around. They hiber.
| nate under roofs and i'm hollow trees.
and their slumber is broken every
time the temperature increases. They
are the first spring insects 10 appear
i'm numbers, coming forth TO sip the
nectar from the March flowers. Dur.
ing the winter season they require no
food
The most interesting OF the Insects
are those which lay their eggs in holes
in the trees and on twigs I'm the fall
and then crawl away TO die having
performed their mission i'm life. These
insects multiply by the millions. While
many accidents happen TO the eggs,
they are deposited in such enormous
quantities that 1t seems almost impos-
sble to destroy them all. These eggs
are laid in all imaginable places. some
! even being deposited i'm other insects,
where they hatch and destroy their
host
Farmers and fruit growers have in
recent years made systematic efforts
to lessen the number of insect pests
by attacking the eggs rather than the
/ ftill- upnN-t, Tho fn11
winter period has become for them the
! period for insect hunting, and they 90
| forth in the orchards and parks to
destroy next years insect hosts before
| they have seen the light of day. In
! Central Park millions of eggs are an
nually destroyed in the fall and win
| ter, and i'm this way the insects de-
| Structive to foliage are prevented from
swarming in overwhelming numbers
| among the trees. If present methods
Were not pursued the workmen in the
| park would have little chance in the
annual battle with the insects. They
would increase in numbers in two
years so that millions of them would
| defy the utmost efforts OF man to pro
tect the foliage.
Eggs can be found anywhere and
! everywhere at this time of the year.
| 1t is only necessary to go forth into
| the woods, park or orchard and make
| n close examination of trees. twgs.
weeds, rocks, stones and logs. Some OF
! the insects are more cautious than
! others, however and they bore deep
holes through the bark of trees, and
sometimes an inch into the hard centre
! of the wood itself. At the bottom of
these holes they deposit their eggs, and
! then close up the opening with u glue
! like substance which will shed the
water. Thus no moisture can reach
the eggs. nor can the cold or creep
! ing enemies find them. The wood
pecSer is an exception. With its long.
powerful bill. this bird hops around
ana around tree, and feeds on the
eggs OF the insects. destroying in each
twenty-four hours hundreds of thou
sands of them. These birds thus per-
| form a good work for the forests that
! can hardly be measured in dollars and
cents.
Other insects simply glue their eggs
to twigs and trees and stones in the
woods. park or orchard. These hatch
| out in the early spring. Some eggs are
so tiny that n few million of them
will cluster in n bunch not larger than
pea Fire is the farmers surest and
quickest aid in destroying the eggs.
and the days sweepings, cuttings and
scrapinGs are thrown into the flames
10 make sure work of them.
The woods and fields are frequently
full OF cOcoons and chrysalids at this
season of the year, holding the young
of another summers crop of butter
flies, worms and caterpillars. The
silllen covering OF the cocoons keeps
out all moisture and cold, and inside
the creature thrives in comfort and
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