Bisbee daily review., 1909-12-04
GERMAN TREE PESTS
Electric Search Beams Lure
 Moths Into Eeath Traps.
Measure Made Necessary by Rsvases of lnsecto Known as "Nuns," Which Threatened to Destroy
 conifers of Saxon Forests.

Berlin.-The foresters of Germany lure noxious insects to their doom by the use of electric lights and other fiery attractions.
 The experiments of the foreste-s were made necessary by the ravages of moths. known popularly through out Germany as the nuns" which threatened to destroy the conifers of the forests of Saxony.
 The moths in question are most ac- tive between the hours of 10 p. m and l a. m., and they are then attracted powerfully toward sources of light
 Experiments demonstrated that the nuns were attracted by the flame of burning wood; more strongly by ace tylene or magnesium lamps, and most powerfully by the electric arc.
 The allnring of the moths was ac, complished at Zittau by cooperation between the foresters and the munich pal electric works. The entire stock of arc lamps was linked together, aft CT the globes had been removed. and set in activity after nightfalL
 Although the forests were several miles distant the effect of the total illumination was sufficiently strong to attract vast swarms of moths from their leafy shelter.
 They futtered about the glowing cartoons and quantities fell to the earth with singed wings. Although great numbers were permanently dis abled, it was evident that the destruc- tive factor must be greatly multiplied t.: attain appreeiable results.
 for that reason another plan was tried. At II D. m. the street lights were turned of. Electric searchlights with current of 40 amperes were mounted and their powerful rays were directed upon the neighboring forests
 These searchlights exerted great at tTactiye force, whicE was increased b. linking to each two arc lamps witI globes. Between these two lamps a powerful suction yentilator was sta toned. 4 piece of wire netting was placed opposite the outlet of the ven :ilator few inches distant .
 The results were startling. The moths came from the forests in enor nous numbers and sooner or latel were sucked into the ventilator and hurled by 1t against the wire netting with such force that the wings were broken and the insects rendered help less or killed outright.
 Four Of these devices were installed in the town of Zittau on the roofs oi buildings. A few minutes after tht searchlight is turned on scattered moths appear. Then the number rap idly increases until thousands arrivt simultaneously and 1utter in and ou | O. the great beam of light
 ] Steadily they near its source uDti suddenly they are within the grasp o i the unseen suction of the ventilator, | and in a second they pass through I | and fall crushed and helpless to. tht bottom of the wire cage The maxi mum result attained in a single nigh ! by this method was tctal weight 9 Al pounds, representing about 400, 0O0 dead moths.
 The outcome of these experiment. has been so convincing that it will b. continued on a much more extended scale. The officials of the UniteC States department of agriculture havt been greatly interested by the reports as the question of protection from in sects enemies of shade trees in Nev 1 England and of American forest generally has of late assumed mucl prominence.
 Experiments in America. it is report ed, along the lines laid down by tn forcsters of Zittau will probably be UT dertaken under the auspices of the de DaTtment of agriculture next year.