The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-07-08


sylvania Department of Agricul-
ture. Timely Topics of Plants and
Pests Discussed Weekly. By H. A.
Surface, State Zoologist.
THE ROSE BUG.
The rose bug is common and
familiar insect which attacks a
great many cultivated plants, trees
and bushes by devouring the foli-
age while in the adult stage. In
regard to this pest, State Zoologist
Surface says:
1T is not a bug but beetle,
as it has chewing mouth parts and
eats the tissue of the leaves, max
ing them appear to be perforated
with numerous holes with quite ir-
regular edges. The larvae of this
beetle live in the ground, and there
transform to the pupal or resting
stage and remain over winter
Deep cultivation of the soil and
other plants they infest is advisa-
BILE. Growers should watch for the
first coming of these beetles, and
jar them from the branches on
sheets saturated with oil stretched
on tie ground, or held to catch the
pests; or into a hopper shaped
cloth bug catcher. They can also
be picked by hand, or shaken from
the trees, bushes or plants and
sprayed with pure kerosene or ex-
ceedingly strong soap solution,
while on the ground. In dealing
with them in this manner the leaves
and plants will not be injured by
the strong spray.
"To keep the bugs from attack
ing the small and tender grapes on
the vines, it is advisable to cover
the punches with paper bags as
soon as possible after blossoming
and setting of the fruit"
FOR THE YOUNG SAN JOSE SCALE.
State Zoologist Surface is calling
attention TO the fact that the young
of the San Jose Scale are just COM
mencing to appear. They are sui
fur or lemon yellow in color, and
resemble fine grains of corn meal.
They crawl for the first day or two,
and then fix themselves forever
by sinking their long lash-like
tongues into the tissue of the plant.
They can never afterward let loose
nor be scraped off without being
killed by so doing; herefore, it is
during their young and free NOV
ing existence only that they are
carried from plant to plant, except
ing when on wood that is to grow
again, such as y.ung trees or cut
tingss
While young they are delicate
md easily killed by mild contact
applications, such as for plant lice,
strong solution of soap CT tobac-
%, or an eight per cent. kerosene
:mulsion. AS soon as fixed they
commence to secrete a waxy COW
ring, which gradually thickens
md protects them Therefore, The
iounger they are when the contact
prays are applied the more readily
hey can be destroyed. Being
ucking insect, rather than chew
ug, arsenical poisons do not affect
them.
The great difficulty in fighting
he San Jose Scale is that the
'oung do not appear at once, but a
lumber are born each day for
Month, and these grow rapidly and
Don commence likewise to produce
~ bearing living young. This
iakes the total annual increase ap-
ear almost incredible, amounting
over three billion in one season.
The parent is so we'll protected
y the hard shell that nothing but
trong contact sprays will kill it,
nd if such sprays be applied when
ne plants are in leaf the foliage
i'll be destroyed. To kill all the
Dung the trees should be sprayed
.- least twice per week for over a
lonth to reach the limit of repro
uction by the original parent.