Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-07-25
DANGER FROM MOTHS
REPORTED OREGON FORESTS
THREATENED BY NEW PEST.
Attempts Will Be Made to Check
Them BY Fostering Native
Bird Life.

The worst devastating insects in
the world are said to be gaining
foothold in Oregon. The damage
that they accomplish runs into many
millions of dollars These are the
GYPSY and brown-tail moths. These,
with white butterflies and pine beet
les would soon destroy the largest
forests in the state. The destruction
by fire in our forests would be less in
dollars and cents, than the destruc-
ton that can be wrought in a short |
time by an attack of the gipsy /
moths.
This statement by William L. Fin
ley, president of the Oregon Audubon
Society, is based upon two newspaper
reports, one from Tacoma and one
from Portland. The former states
that the brown-tail moth has infested
the Rainier Valley, near Seattle, and
that the state commissioner of horti-
culture has ordered the district af-
fected under quarantine. The latter
is III the form of a communication
stating that what appears to be the
gipsy moth has made its appearance
in Southeast Portland.
Forests Stripped
When it is realized that entire for-d
ests are stripped Of their foliage and
left as barren as telegraph poles
within few days, that vast areas of
timber country are actually destroyed
by the attacks Of the gipsy and brown
tail moths, it is time that a thorough
investigation were made to ascertain
whether there be any truth in these
rumors.
The gipsy moth was imported into
this country for scientic purposes in
1868 While they were carefully kept
in captivity for some time, they final
ly broke away, and within 20 years
New England was attacked by them
in such numbers that entire forests
were stripped in short time. The
legislature of Massachusetts appro-
priated $4,000 for their extermina-
ton, but to little avail. Within ten
years over one million was spent i'll
the work, followed by an appropria-
tion of 100000 in one year, yet the
gipsy moth was unconquered The
state finally gave up the work and
one property owner spent over $75,-
900 on his own estate in an effort to
stem the fearful slaughter of the
trees.
Destruction Threatened.
Il will not take long for the Ore
gon farmer, fruit grower or timber
owner to appreciate the enormity of
this fearful destruction, after inves-
tigating the failure of the state OF
What would happen
to these magnificent Oregon forests,
should the gypsy moth once gain a
foothold? No one can tell, for the
financial loss would be greater than
could ever result from fire.
1t is the experience of the Biologi-
cal Survey of the Department OF Ag-
riculture that once these frightful en-
emies of the tree invade timber
country, they cannot be destroyed. 1t
is urged that the best that can be
done is to check them If rs per cent
Of the total is destroyed, a good work
has been done The scientific check
ING of this pest is outlined in several
that have been issued by the
Bureau of Biological Survey and !
yreat emphasis is laid upon the natur- /,
al check provided by bird life. !
Valuable Birds t
The chickadee, nnthatch, bushtit, :
warbler. sparrow and woodpecker, OF !
he Oregon birds, are known to be the !
worst enemies to gypsy moths that we :
nave Many sections of the country :
nave been watched by scientists with :
he idea of ascertaining to what eS- :
emf these birds actually feed upon
moths The result has been astonish- !
NO These investigations have dem
,nstrated that these birds have an
economical value in the destruction OF :
insect pests in our forests that no one
,an approximate. Upon opening the s
.tomachs of the birds, it has been (
'ound that the principal diet was in =
eets and moths that are detrimental ,
n forest growth. II is popular be- !.
ief that birds of certain kinds are ! !
to fruit trees, while an
,fhtlysis of bird stomachs shows con
.Iusiyelv that insect life is their chief !
God As a matter of fact the harm
hat they do, which is slight, is great
v exceeded by the good.
Is Is estimated by the Department
# Agriculture that the damage sus- i
aimed bv insect infestation, to the {
lmerican tree is S62, 100000 annu- a
Illy Does anyone dare estimate /
'ow much this damage would be IN o
,eased. were the forest enemies to i
make Oregon their battle ground J {
me- time TO check their inroads Is b
.ow. when il is suspected they are .
,ating this way. The bird life of the 5
tate sbonld be Loyalty protected. a
-bese little policemen Of the arr ;
bouId he encouraged, safe-guarded {
nj petted. for upon them, to a very c
sroe extent. rests the burden Of the a
slvstion Of the forests Of this great v
tate.
o-l.- IN Mangies Youth.