The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-02-25
THE GREEN APHIs
BY w. T. Hawkey, horticultural In
spectOr for Bingham and Fremont
Counties, PocatellO and
American Falls

The green aphis of the apple. plum
and peach tree, while belonging to
the same general family and while
their life history is the same, they
differ somewhat in appearance, and
much in habits and choice of host
plant. That is to say, the apple aphis
is never found on the peach or plum
tree or either of these on the apple
tree-each to its host plant, the apple
aphis on the apple tree, the peach
aphis on the peach tree and so with
the plum-they will die if the kind
II host plant is changed. Every aphis
OF the above kind now alive is fe-
male, the young now produced and
those born are all females and will
be females till the last brood in the
fall and that brood will be about
evenly divided, male and female. The
next crop are, eggs which are deposit
ed, usually on the small limbs of the
years growth, from which eggs come
all the green aphis for the next year.
and every egg Matched the next spring
produces a female aphis. The eggs
hatch generally just as the leaves be-
gin to start in the spring. The aphis
produced from the eggs largely live
and produce young throughout the
season. The young are able to re-
produce In about eight days from
the time of birth. They are the least
liable to death and are the most
productive of all known insect life.
their production is a continuous fact
or.
During the winter not an aphis
is alive, all are dead; the future
broods rest in the eggs. These are
minute black objects, shining black
specks, distributed over the small
limbs. 1t will readily be seen that
whatever destroys the eggs will prove
the most successful. In winter or
just as leaves are starting, spray on
the eggs is the right thing to do. We
come now to the present phase of
the green aphis. So far in NV in
spection of conditions of orchards |
ind the green aphis in abundance in
most orchards. 1t generally appears
most numerous after the middle of
July, SO according to usual condi-
lions there will be an increase to the
already over abundant pest if not
prevented it is likely to injure the
young apples and certainly to large
extent 1njure the young gratis and |
In many cases kill them entirely. The
young trees also will suffer and in |
some cases to such an extent as never
to recover. In every orchard and on |
every tree having this pest | urge |
immediate action, spraying with the
Following formula for summer use
black tobacco dip one gallon, water
10 gallons. Whale oil soap one III.
water gallons; both of these are
good. Boil your soap in water until
mixed, apply while warm.
The first spraying should be followed
by another within six days, remem-
bering that the young will reproduce
IN eight days and that many are born
IN the dying struggles of the aphises
MT at the first spraying, and that
those so born are not hurt. The
pest time for treatment is while the
trees are dormant. any time in early
spring. l believe the following form
ula to be the best for winter SPRAY
Ing: lump lime, good 20 pounds, sui
'ur l5 lbs, water SO gallons, slack
the lime preferably with hot water in
an IRON Kettle or barrel and while
Stacking slowly add the sulphur and
stir 1t, then boil over a good fire or
by means of yet of steam in about
one half the required amount of
water, rs gallons, for an hour or two
Dr. until a dark red color is obtained.
strain, dilute to fifty gallons and ap-
ply while hot.
Formula for winter use No. 2
whale oil soap one h., water four
gallons; heat soap and water till per-
ectly mixed. This will spray better
used warm and is more effectual.
t will be noticed that this soap mix
ure Is stronger than that for sum-
ner use.
The sulphur and lime mixture is
bought in California to be the best
IS more likely to kill scale insects
nd has the advantage of being
heaper. I believe the soap has ali
he good qualities of the sulphur mix
ure except the cost and is pleasanter
Q use. This Is written to call atten-
lon to the immediate necessity of
combating the aphis pest as now
ound or more serious will be the
esults from the first of August till
ne freezing weather comes. .
Every farmer or fruit grower
Mould have spray pump You can't
ct along without one any more than
GU can get along without wagon.