The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-02

thought be was on che track Of the insect
that he was especially In quest Of. He
found by the records Of the Smithsonian
Institution that the supposed parasite
for the fruit fly had once been cent thers
by DR.. H. Won Ibering, director Of thu mu-
scum at Sac Paulo, Brazil, but merely for
Identification. Az soon as the sample had
been identified by the Washington scien-
tists IL had been returned to the sender
in Brazil.
30 on started Mr.. Compere for South
America to hunt his bug. He arrived at
Sac Paulo on April ~, 1904. In Tamhata,
Sac Caetano, MOoca and Sac Bernardo he
hunted from orchard to orchard and from
tree TO tree for the desired insect.
He wanted first TO find the fruit hy, be-
cause then be would find the parasite,
and the latter could bo bred IN SUFFICIENT
numbers to form = colony for shipment.
But being unable TO discover the insoctG
In the desired number, be went to Bahia.
He found them there, but Stm IN very
limited quantities. He concluded that be
would have TO cultivate . colony.
He covered q pitinea tresthat had fruit
fly maggots in it's fruit With mosquito net
ting In order to ward on tho parasites and
permit the pest 70 multiply undistIrbed.
In the meantime no sought on every side
for moro fruit flea and placed thoSe OBJ
tanned beneath the mosquito netting also.
Then he removed the mosquito netting
to allow the parasites to have free access
to the flies. Soon he observed the para
sites at work laying their eggs.
On the tenth day after the tree had first
been enveloped In the netting Mr.. Compare
picked all the fruit, now thoroughly In
tested with both pest and parasite, and
packed It for Shipmsnt, The next day he
sailed for Southampton With eight Gases
Of infected fruit,
The journey from Bahia 70 FremantlO,
West Australia, was made In forty-aiK
days, and Mr.. Compere found his insects
In good condition upon arrival, and colonies
Of the fruit hy parasite. which was In the
shape Of an ichneumon fly. were soon Hber-
ated to attack and destroy the pest.
But 1t 30 happened that the importation
Of the parasite was at a season when ita
natural food, the maggot Of the fruit fly,
was very scarce, and those liberated died
from lack Of nourishment. A portion
were placed In ood storage in order 10 pre-
serve them In q dormant state, n possible,
until the opening Of the season for the fruit
fly maggots. But Just after Mr.. Compers's
arrival in California on occasion Of his
recent visit he received word from West
Australia that the cold storage e1pedient
had not been successful Therefore he
is on his way to South America again to
make another collection Of bugs.
A world wide bug hunter eno0untera
many perils and perpleTiHes In the oourSS
Of his travels. He goes alone and un~
attended, save In some local quest, when
he may employ a native helper or inter
! prefer.
He sees none but strange faces and hears
none but strange tongues. Ho IL sub
Jet to suspicion from the private citizen
! and the government Official. He usually
breaches the nature Of his business only
when necessary.
OF course, he goes armed with passports
and letters Of credit. Still. be meets with
many obstacles that often delay the prose-
! cution Of his work.
His search frequently takes him into
! tropical climes, where, In looking for In
J sects, he is often In danger Of being at
| tackled by venomous snakes. In India
these dangers are especially frequent
The search for insect parasites requires
the energy and sagaoity Of sleuth In
lands where the parasite has iuu sway
the pest does 30 little harm that It loees its
identitv. and the native horticultIist u
unable 10 give much. II any, information
upon the subject The bug hunter y there
fore thrown almost entirely upon his own
resources. He must actually camp on
the trail Of his subject; must make an eI-
haustive study Of It's life history, and than
follow his clues with all the eagernesa and
| alertness Of a professional detective.
! Nor do the difficulties Of the bug hunter
| end with the discovery Of his subject. He
! must find his insects In guficient number
! 10 form a colony; they must be free from
! secondary parasites and must bo 90 packed
! that they may undergo long journeys
( by land and sea, Then their stage Of de-
| velopment must be timed with the depar-
| ture Of outgoing steamers 80 that they may
| arrive at their destination alive and In .
] healthy condition.