The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1913-11-20

spring. ana the eggs are deposited
from April Is to June IS, an important
fact fl connection with the work OF
their determination Only one brood
occurs during the year. Each female
win deposit from twenty to sixty eggs
IN an egg chamber or cell leading of
from the main tunnel and within about
five inches OF the top OF the ground
The eggs hatch within twenty-four to
twentyssix days The young cricket
reaches the adult stage within eight
to twelve months.
Eata Many Kind Of Plants.
The mole cricket's food consists
both Of plant and animal life. The
cricket viii eat the eggs Of its young
on feed upon another OF the same
species. but it's principal food is com
posed Of the young and tender roots
Of growing plants. The cricket does
not confne its feeding to one partlcu-
lar plant 1t will feed on practically
ali truck crops, such as lettuce, pep
per, tomatoes, turnips and potatoes.
and upon pastures and lawns which
suffer severely.
Young sugar cane is also much-de-
sired article Of diet Both the potato
vine and potatoes themselves are eat
en-. The cricket sewers the vines OF
tomatoes, potatoes and peppers Just
below the surface of the ground. As
much as fifty per cent of field OF
potatoes has been destroyed by the
crickets eating into the tubers.
Probably the most effective method
vet presented in controlling the mole
cricket is to pillow the breeding areas
two or three times between April 10
and June Is. This exposes the eggs
in large numbers to the sun which
kills them, or they may be eaten by
insectiverous animals.
In the case of young and tender
plants, preventive measures have Of
ten been employed with good effect,
such as placing around them tin, wire
gauze or paper cylinders. a very
good tin cylinder is made by melting
the top and bottom off tin tomato
can. The cylinder should extend about
two inches above the ground. All lot
beds in an infested area should have
solid or gauae wire floors, preferably
the latter and with fine mesh, and
they should be screened over during
the night, as that is the time when
the cricket does most of it's feeding.
How to Kill Them.
For destroying the crickets poison
bats have been used with good re.
suits. Arsenate of lead may be used
in proportion of three pounds to ifty
gallons Of water, or paris green in
proportion of one-half ounce to a
bucket Of water Mash made OF bran,
corn meal and cotton seed meal with
this poison Incorporated, and placed
in the fields where the crickets feed
will attract them, and the eating OF
1t kills them. Care must be taken
to see that no animals run at large
that would be tempted by the bait for
a few weeks after it is put out, as
otherwise they would be sure to be
poisoned.
It is only in the spring that the
crickets fly to any great extent. Dur
ing April, especially on warm,
moist nights, they leave the earth in
swarms. A brilliant light placed over
a tub partly filed with water covered
over with oil, will serve as a death
trap to all attracted Bonfres are
equally eMectlVe ana VIII dltAaol Ii i0ii.
from a greater area. Sulphur placee
in the drills along with the seed VIII
act as a repellant, as the crickets dc
not like it.
The subterranean habits and insid
ious activities Of the mole cricket
makes it a serious foe, says the de
partment of Entomology. However
by intelligent and persistent applica
ton of the remedies suggested, it is
possible almost to eradicate the pest
The department will be glad to sup
ply complete bulletins on this and
other subjects to those interested.