The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-07

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insects devour the foliage Of all trees. In
Guiding evergreenS. and like armies they
sweep over orchards and forests, leaving
desolation behind them.
So alarming has become their spread
that In addition 70 the aid which IL given
by the State for their control, cooperative
associations Of property holders are now
organizing for protection about Boston
and in other places where the moths have
appeared.
The gpsy moth lays tie eggs in clusters
Of from three hundred 10 four hundred
covered by yellow or light brown fuzzy
matter. They are deposited very thickly
over the trunks and branches Of the trees,
and they may be easily Seon. Some Of
the trunks Of the largest trees are so COM
pletsly covered by these egg nests that
none Of the bark IL visible.
The browntailed moth lays It's eggs In
clusters on the underside Of the leaves,
from which caterpillars hatch in large
numbers. They soon devour the foliage
upon all trees upon which their eggs are
laid. The caterpillars, partially grown,
make nests by drawing leaves about them,
fastening by a thread, which are suspended
from the ends Of branches, and pass the
winter in this form. These should be
gathered and burned. During the dn-
ferent periods Of moulting, fine hairs are
given OF, which float in the air and are
extremely poisonous TO many people.
Other insects that are more general in
their dissemination are the apple tree and
forest tent caterpillars. These are ALEC
foliage eating in character, and by their
prolonged attacks destroy many valuable
trees. both fruit and forest.
Their eggs are laid in clusters Of from
$50 to 800 and securely glued to the small
twigs OF branches Of the trees. These hatch
in the early spring, and the beauty Of the
country is married nearly every year by
these caterpIlars. which destroy the foliage
OF trees which are weakened by their ef-
forts to put out new foliage.
The egg nests should be picked as far as
possible and burned and the trees sprayed
with two pounds OF ArsenAte Of lead In fifty
gallons Of water as soon as the larva are
discovered working upon them. By Tgor-
Gus and timely action, these pests, however
Troublesome. may be efectually controlled
and trees saved from injury by them
through modern methods.
Careful inspection Of trees should be made
frequently to discover the presence not only
OF the insects mentioned, but Of possible new
ones which are liable 10 come into a COM
munity at any time by importation.
The oodling moth Is . fruit insect, and
does enormous injury to apples and pears
and is the cause Of much wormy and In
ferior fruit. The moth comes from its
pupa form in the spring after the blossoms
have fallen from the young developing fruit.
II lays eggs on the fruit, each moth de-
posting about fifty or more.
In few days the egg hatch, when the
young larva moves TO the blossom or calx
end Of the fruit and bores its way into the
center Of the apple, there remaining for
several weeks until it begins TO prepare
for its winter stage. boring out Of the apple
to get to the ground. and causing the fruit
TO drop.
Thee moths are effectively controlled by
spraying the trees with one and one-half
pounds Of arsenate Of lead dissolved in fifty
gallons Of water as soon Is the blossoms fall.
The arsenAts Of lead covers the fruit, and
when the young worm begins TO nibble 10
make its entrance il il poisoned and the fruit
IL saved from injury and dsfAcement.
1t Is important that this spraying be done
promptly, as in a few days the calix end Of
the apple closes in its growth, when il is
difficult 70 get the poison at the point where
the lArvs make their entrance to the fruit.
A all Of the fruits do not develop at the
same time, II is necessary to spray again
in ten days to prevent injury TO the spec
linens Of later development. By this method
Of treatment % per cent. Of the fruit may
be preserved as perfect specimens.
There Is another class Of insects that do
great injury though in a different way.
These are the aphides or plant lice. They
AFFECT many fruit trees, roses and other
plants.
They penetrate the leaves With sucking
tubes, sucking the sap until the leaves
roll and Wither. The leaves frequently
drop of the branches, leaving the trees
without foliage, when they most need II
70 perfect the development Of both wood
and fruit
This class Of insects also increases 10
vast numbers. They eIorete from their
bodies a sweet, sticky substance known
as honey dew, which anita are very fond Of.
The ants protect the aphides, as they are
a source Of food for them.
They are generally found on cherry
trees. but frequently on peach. plum and
young apple trees. For several years
the corn root aphis destroyed the crops
of Illinois, and 1t was found that just before
winter the ants would take the insects
from the corn roots and carry them into
their ant hills. where they would care for
them during the winter.
In the spring they would carry them
back again 10 the corn fields. II was not
until the ant hills were destroyed that the
corn root aphis was eXterminated.
The spraying Of all trees and plants
infested with these insects with whale oil
soap, one pound TO seven gallons Of water,
will destroy large numbers Of them.
One Of the most valuable Of all insects
10 know and to protect Ia the ladybug.
The ladybugs live upon all forms Of plant
lice and devour them by millions
They often enter houses and seek out
the larve Of the buffalo moth or carpet
beetle, 30 destructive TO carpets and 10
woolens. The lad ybugs are oval In form, with
red coloring and with red and yellow spots
upon their backs.
They will be found crawling over the
plants in the garden or upon trees that are
infested with any form Of plant lice By
observing them carefully they may be