The Grit-advocate., 1903-11-27
HOpT1CUlJF
Plant Lice.

SSt
Plant Lice.
Plant lice are tiry insects usually
rounded in form and provided with
two little tubes which extend upward
and backward from the abdomen, says
bulletin Of the Colorado Experiment
Station. Lice live upon the juices of
plants by thrusting their bills
through the epidc mis- OF the tender
twigs or leaves. The first brood in
the spring is produced from eggs
which were laid the previous fall. The
other generations. except the last, are
females born alive, and as these young
begin Immediately to suck juices and
soon bear other young. the number
which may result in a single season
from the Matching Of one egg is almost,
incredible. The first generations are
wingless and live not far from the
place where the eggs Matched. In
time. however. winged individuals ap-
pear. These fly to new feeding grounds
and are the chief source Of distribu-
tion. Most lice are green and escape
notice. but some are made conspicuous
by their colors. The last brood in the
fall lay eggs. These may be seen
after the leaves have fallen as tiny
black-oblong objects on the limbs and
about the buds. An abundance of
these indicates that watchfulness will
be needed the following spring.
Generally plant lice are kept under
control by their enemies. chief Of
which are the lady birds and syrphus
flies. Adult lady-birds may usually
be recognized as oval red beetles
spotted with black. The larvae are
oblong, rough and commonly mottled
red and black. They have three pairs
of legs and distinct head. The eggs
are yellow and laid in patches where
lice are abundant. The syrphus fly
larvae are smooth, green or greenish
white and without distinct legs and
head. The eggs are white. oblong
bodies which are laid singly on the
leaves OF infested plants. Where the
enemies are abundant they will de-
stroy the lice and spraying is unneces-
sary.
From the manner Of their feeding 1t
is impossible to kill plant lice with
poisons. 1t is necessary to employ
some substance which will kill by
contact and to apply it very thorough
ly, for every insect which escapes the
application remains to repopulate the
food plant. These precautions are
valuable: 1. Spray upward with force
so as to wet the under side Of the
leaves. 2. Spray before the winged
forms appear to prevent distribution.
"Teliins'' People About Spraying.
Our entomologists and horticultur-
lists. says Prof. F. M. Webster. have
been trying to instruct people, but still
we are encountering criticisms every
year; and when we demonstrate, we
are asked why in the world we do not
tell people these things. Why do we
not tell people? II the Angel Gabriel
had attempted to tell people" he
would have long ago worn out his
trumpet and retired in disgust! Why
do we not tell people? Why will not
people read. and listen, and remember
these things that are as simple as the
first letters Of the alphabet? Tell peo-
pie! Why, we are 50 sick Of telling
these things that we hate the sound
Of our own voices, or the words as
they appear on paper. How in the
world are we to tell you If you will
not listen, or listening will not re-
member? Why will you not read these
things? I ask these questions because
this u really one of the most dificult
phases of the problem. After we
learn what an insect will do and what
1t will not do, there is the unknown
quantity to take into consideration,
viz. what the people will do II they do
! anything. Now, have no wish to dis
count the intelligence of our people,
and yet 1t always gives me the feeling
that I am doing this when l repeat,
time and again. the simplest state
ments and directions relative to spray
ing for certain insects or fungous dis.
| eases.