New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-06

plot and flashing dark lantern from time u
time upon the flowers. at the same time exam
ming then with a small glass. he would gain
no clew- This Is the laboratory of Dr. South
WICK. the entomologist Of the Department Of
Parks In tnis garden which he plants and
tends himself. he learns what insects are to be
found in the parks and on what they feed Here
ne experiments with poisons and various in
secucides to learn what will destroy the insects
without injury to the plant tissues In this
compact little garden are four hundred species
and varieties of plants. representing a wide
range # plant fami.iea.
Its object is TO attract insects" said DR..
Southwick. who has been entonoIogist Of the
PARK for more than a score Of years In this
Eardeu ] can find out what insects are in the
park. and where they come from. There
many insects in the park which would not other
wise De discovered They appear as soon as con-
ditions are favorable. AL insects have likes and
dislikes. and are able 10 make a proper selec-
ton OF the plant best suited for their use. Many
insects live on the plants # one family. The
potato bug. for instance. lives only on plants Of
ne potato family. such as the nightshade,
ground cherry. tobacco, datUra and Iycium."
Or. Southwick led the way along a narrow path
To a leathery leafed plant which ne said was
heubane- This" sail be, is the only species
Of the potato family l have this year. Look
here Il separated the leaves and revealed the
striped backs of q number Of potato bugs, the
baEe of the farmer And here" he continued
pulling back a leaf. there are the soft bodies
Of the young. Here are the yellow eggs of the
bus" turning over another leaf until its back
could be seen These bugs picked out the only
member 1f the potato family in the garden
Most insects confine themselves to the plants
Of one family The asteris butterfly. for instance
no of ba
eight spotted forester feeds upon all varieties
Of the japanese and American ampelopsis and
the grape.
Here is a story which will illustrate how thu
asteris viii seek out the plant which it requires
for food one afternoon as I walking
through the park I found an old asteris but
terfiy. Evidently she had deposited nearly all
her eggs and her race was nearly ended. Her
wings were so badly torn that she could hardly
beat the air sufficiently to fly. She seemed 10
have just enough strength left to hunt for the
precious food plant which to deposit the last
Of her eggs. For more than an hour watched
her. She struggled on and on. obeying the in
stinct to secure for her young their proper food
when they were ushered into the world. At last
she succeeded in finding bit Of wild carrot and
on this she settled and, her life ebbing away
deposited the eggs. Having fulfilled all her
pectatons, this anxious mother sank upon a
plant. worn and exhausted probably never 10
rise again. 1 have observed the same persist
snCe in plants I have cut down plants toward
the end Of the season, and just before the fruit
ing time, and have observed later that tender
shoots had been thrown UP from the roots with
tiny blossoms on them Unable to bear fruit
normally, it persisted in doing it's duty.
Some insects do not cOnhne their food
plants OF one order but seem TO be omnivorOus.
The cabbage butterfly is very partial TO the mas
turtium, well as the plants Of the cruciferOu,