The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1910-03-30
Paul Kruger Describes Appear
ance and Habits of Clover
Leaf Beetle, Which Is Playing
Havoc Near Prosser.

Writing about the clover leaf beetle
which has attacked the Northern Pa
Cific model orchards at ProSSer and
neighboring orchards, and which
threatens destruction to newly planted
orchards, Paul Kruger, who made an
inspection of themodel orchard OF the
railway people, writes as follows:
Glover Leaf Beetle or Shout Beetles
are separated into number of fami-
lies, which need not be particularly de-
scribed In giving a brief history of
the beetle found at the Northern Pa
Cific model orchard tracts at Prosser it
is well to state that too much care can
not be taken to eradicate this pest. 1t
works early in the morning, especially
on warm days, crawling upon the
young trees, attacking the bark. grid
ling the tree completely on the top
feeding upon the unopened buds and
afterward attacking the leaves. A
young orchard thus attacked looks
sickly and stunted. The beetle is gem
orally found at the base of the tree.
BY digging carefully you will find it
sometimes adhering closely to Jumps of
dirt, at other times scattered about 2
or 3 inches below the surface of the
ground near the tree. AS many as 40
or so is not unusual to find attacking
u tree.
Character of the Beetle.
The beetle is about half an inch long,
.iull brown in color tending toward
gray, indefinitely striped wing cover
and a short. stout beak. In looking
mp authorities on this beetle. Eco
nomic Entomology by John B. Smith,
&C. d.. says as regarding this family
of beetles: This insect hibernates in
the larVal stage and their injury be-
comes manifest early in the season,
often threatening entire destruction"
This statement is proven by the fact
presented at the Northern Pacific
model orchard tracts. whole blocks of
trees having been attacked by it and
the buds DESTROYED. Not only does the
beetle attack apple trees, but pears
as well. and cherries also suffer. In
this instance two-year-old trees are
attacked. ! am credibly informed that
the beetle has already scattered to the
adjoining orchard tracts as far as
Grandview. l would advise every
orchardist to look carefully over his
young trees and if he finds as above
indicated. use measures at once to de-
stroy them.
Remedy Suggested.
The remedy is as follows:
Stir up the soil well around your
trees. yet not sufficient to scatter the
beetles. then use the following: Kero-
sene emulsion: Two gallons of the best
kerosene. 1 pound of whale oil soap, l
gallon of soft water; if you have no
soft water add boraX. Boil whale oil
soap in water until thoroughly dis
solved, and to this one-half gallon
of lime-sulphur solution. Add this
when your whale oil soap is boiling.
Lime will become separated from the
sulphur for time being. Keep stirring
and boiling and soon the lime will
mix Now add Kerosene and agtate
violently with spray pump, using at
least GO pounds pressure. for 10 min
utes. Be sure there is free oil
floating on the surface. Reduce this
mixture ten times with water when
trees are in a dormant condition, when
tree is out in leaf. reduce 20 time~.
fight in the base of the tree. Saturate
the ground with the emulsion, using
u pressure of least 100 pounds. This
Will absolutely kill them and not hurt
the tree. Mr. Chase, manager Of the
Northern Pacific orchard tracts, is US
with the same, and as he is de-
termined man | am sure he will be
able to clean out the beetle.