The suburban citizen., 1902-01-25


dlnary field spiders begin to spin their
winter protection in early autumn, and
by the time cold weather comes they
have made house of silk for them
selves which is impervious to rain and
cold. Inside Of this silk covering there
Is perfect comfort, and the spider pro-
ceeds to sleep away the long, dull
dreary days
TO most people the caterpillars seem
too sensitive and tender to appear
abroad in winter, but If one goes forth
in the woods and fields on warm winter
days he may not only find few cater
pillars about, but an occasional but
terhy. The most common caterpillar
which awakens from its winter sleep
is 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
in winter and fit around They hiber-
nate under roofs and in hollow trees,
and their slumber is broken every
time the temperature increases. They
are the first spring insects 10 appear
in 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 in the fall,
and then crawl away to die, having
performed their mission in life. These
insects multiply by the millions. While
many accidents happen to the eggs,
they are deposited in such enormous
quantities that it seems almost impos-
sble to destroy them all. These eggs
are laid in all imaginable places, some
even being deposited in 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
full-grOWn creatures. The fall and
winter period has become for them the
period for insect hunting, and they go
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 in this way the insects de-
structive to foliage are prevented from
!, al
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
a close examination of trees, twigs,
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 a 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
pecker is an exception. With its long,
powerful bill, this bird hops around
and around a 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 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 few million Of them
will cluster in bunch not larger than
pea Fire is the farmers surest and
quickest aid in destroying the eggs.
and the days sweepings, cuttings and
scrapngs are thrown into the flames
to make sure work Of them.
The woods and fields are frequently
full OF cocoons and chrysalds at this
season Of the year, holding the young
Of another summers crop Of butter
flies, worms and caterpillars. The
sllken covering OF the cocoons keeps
out all moisture and cold, and inside
the creature thrlyes in comfort and
solitary happiness Washington Times.
Sn,ne Ancient Ships.