The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1909-10-15
GERMAN TREE PESTS
Electric Search Beams Lure
Moths Into Death Traps.
Measure Made Necessary by RsVsoes
Of Insects Known az "Nuns."
Which Threatened to Destroy
coniiers Of Saxon Forests.

flerlin.-The foresters OF Germany
lure noxlous insects TO their doom by
the use OF electric lights and other
hery attractions
The experiments OF tho foreste;s
we're made necessary by the ravages
Of moths. known popularity through
out Germany as the nuns" which
threatened TO destroy the conifers OF
the forests OF Saxony
The moths In question are IT ost nc.
tive between the hours OF 10 p. m and
a. M. and they are then attracted
powerfully toward sources OF light.
Experiments demonstrated that the
nuns" were attracted by the fame OF
burning wood: more strongly by ace.
tylene or magnesium lamps. and most
powerfully by the electric arc.
The alluring OF the moths was nc.
complished at Zittau by cooperation
between the foresters and the munici.
pal electric works The entire stock
OF arc lamps was linked together. aft.
or the globes had been removed. and
set In activity after nlghtfan.
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 nuttered about the glowing
carbons and quantities fell TO the
earth with singed wings. Although
great numbers were permanently dis.
abled. II was evident that the destruc.
tive factor must be greatly multiplied
to attain appreclable results.
For that reason another plan was
tried, Al II p. m. the street lights
were turned on. Electric searchlights
with n current OF 40 amperes were
mounted and their powerful rays were
directed upon the neighborlng forests
These searchllghts exerted great at
tractiye force. which was increased
by linking to each two arc lamps with
globes, Between these two lamps
powerful suction ventilator was sta.
toned. A piece OF wire netting was
placed opposite the outlet OF the ven.
tilator few inches distant
The results were startling. The
moths came from the forests In enor
nous numbers and sooner or later
were sucked into the yentilator and
hurled by II against the wire netting
with such force that the wings were
broken and the insects rendered help
less or killed outright.
- i.
In the town OF Zittau on the roofs OF
buildings A few minutes after the
searchlight is turned on scattered
moths appear Then the number rap.
idly increases until thousands arrive
simultaneously and fiutter In and out
OF the great beam Of light
Steadily they near its source until
suddenly they are within the grasp of
the unseen suction OF the ventilator;
and In "A second they pass through IL
and TALL crushed and helpless TO the
bottom OF the wire cage The maxi.
mum result attained In a single night
by this method was total weight II
lil pounds. representing about 400,
900 dead moths,
The outcome OF these experiments
has been so convincing that 1t will b -
continued on much more extended
scale, The officials OF the United
States department OF agriculture have
been greatly interested by the reports.
as the question OF protection from in.
sects enemies OF shade trees In New
England and OF American forests
generally has OF late assumed much
prominence,
Experiments in America. It is report.
cd, along the lines laid down by the
Ioresters OF Zittau will probably be un.