The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-18
GREAT INSECT DEsTRoYERs
Some Astounding Figures Concerning
Ravasss Of Thsss Pests, Given 40
Arguments for the Protection
Of Their Feathersd Enemies.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

On1teO states 6nOulQ De destroyed To-
morrow, the insect tax of one year
not only would replace them, but
would leave a balance sufficient to en-
dow thirty-two new universities in the
sum Of $10,000,OO0 each. It costs
more by many millions each year to
feed our insects than to educate our
20,000,000 children
II the writer of the above had want
ed further to impress home the neces-
sity Of bird protection, he might have
added the statement of French scien-
fist who after. an exhaustive study Of
the relation Of birds to agriculture
said that If the birds were annihilated
that man could not survive on the
earth for six months. When the
Frenchman's word was doubted, scien-
lists from all countries Of the globe
came forward to substantiate his word
on the subject.
This is the way that the Frenchman
summarized the matter. He said that
II the bird enemies of the insects
were killed the destructive creatures
would increase 50 rapidly that in
few months every green thing on the
earth would be devoured and that
man would be powerless to keep pace
with the ravages Of the insect enemy,
even though he used every known
means like poison and fire.
With the passing of the herbs and
the grass and the trees the animals
all would die and man would have
nothing to live upon except the fish
of the sea and these would be INSULT
Gent to keep man living even though
they could be obtained by the people
remote from the sources of supply.
Increasing Support for Bills.
Senator George p. Mclean of Con-
necticut has introduced into congress
bill supplementary to the one which
he introduced some time ago to pro-
tect the birds Of America. It is not
known what action congress will take.
but there are evidences at hand that
the agriculturists of the country are
taking deep interest in the matter
for they are adding their word of sup
port to the words of the bird protec-
tors generally and to those Of the
sportsmen and the people who are
humanitarians without having any
greater interest. in birds than they
have in other forms Of animal life
which they thing should be. protected.
In the year 1904 DR.. c. L. Bartlett.
basing his estimate on the crop re-
ports of the department of agriculture,
asserted that the loss to the agr1cul-
tural industries that year, caused by
insects alone, could be conservatively
placed at $795 100000, and this does
not include dollar used for insecti-
cides. State Ornithologist Forbush Of
Massachusetts,, in his comprehensive
book entitled useful Birds" main
tains that insect pests destroy agri-
cultural products to the value Of
$500, 100000 year. ..e
The details whereby such enor-
nous totals are reached are available
and indicate that the scientists are not
guessing wildly. For example, the
Hessian fly in 1904 cost the wheat
growing states $50,000,00O. Cinch
bugs cost the Mississippi valley $780,
100000 in one year. Rocky Mountain
locusts. in their years of greatest
activity, cost the northwest more than
$1b0,000,000. Cut-worms have caused
loss of 100000, 900 at one time. Thus
It is seen that the terrible loss Of
$500, 100000 In one year Is fairly easy
Of proof. <.
Their Marvellous Fecund1ty.
The fecundity Of many insects Is
beyond Imagination. The green leaf
louise or aphis, 80 destructive Of the
hop industry, and many other Of our
most valuable fruits and vegetables,
reproduces It's kind at rate Of ten
sextillion to the pair In one season.
These uncomfortable figures mean 49,
600 for every square inch of land that
is above watsr. Placed in the Indian
flle, ten to the inch, It would take light
travelling at the rate Of 100000 miles
per second $500 years to reach the
flle leader. The potato bug is less
fecund. One pair will reproduce from
fifty to sixty millions only in one sea-
son. The unchecked natural increase
Of one pair Of gypsy moths would de-
foliate the United States in eight
years. d
Insects live to eat. Some insects In
crease their size at birth ten thousand
times in thirty days. No less than
176 species Of insects attack the APP
pie, plum, peach and cherry trees; 400
species are found upon the oak.
Fortunately for the protection Of
humanity against its insect enemies,
birds are among the most important
agencies in staying the inroads OF In
sect devastation. Most birds eat most
Of the time and eat insects and little
else. Mr.. Treadwell Of the Boston So
ciety Of Natural History fed young
robin sixty eight angleworms in one
day. a young crow will eat twice It's
weight day Of almost anything set
before II. Mr. Forbush has seen two
parent grosbeaks In eleven hours
make $50 trips to their nest, carrying
two or three larvae at a time.