The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1913-09-12
WATCH YOUR POTATOES FOR
THE POTATO TUBER MOTH
Little Insects Can do ShOuSandS of Dol
lars Worth of Damage in one Year
Read the Remedy

For several years the Potato Iubel
Moth or Potato Worm. as it is some.
times called, has been the worst potato
pest in California, where it has done
hundreds OF thousands Of damage an
nually. During the last couple o.
years this pest has been found estab-
fishing itself at several places within
our state It has been received in
shipments OF pots toes from other parts
of the country. This is the manner in
which it will get introduced into new
territory, and every precaution should
be taken 10 prevent this introduction.
The adult moth, which is about one
half inch from tip to tip of wings and
about one-lourth Of an inch in length
and of a grayish color, lays about
twenty pearly white eggs upon the
leaves or upon exposed tubers in early
summer or upon the tubers at digging
time. These eggs hatch into tiny
pinkish white larvae which feed upon
the leaves, stems or tubers, or only
upon the tubers when they are stored
in bins during the winter. They bur-
row all through the tubers, rendering
them useless and unfit for food. In
from four to six weeks the larvae get
their growth, and then they seek a
sheltered place, spin cocoons about
themselves and transform into pupae.
In the summer this pupal stage lasts
about two to three weeks and the adult
moth appears again and lays eggs for
a second brood of larvae. The moths
live but few days. By late fall the
larv ae have developed into the pupal
stage in which state they remain over
win,, II, adult. moths appearing in the
stosas e bins in late winter or early
spring The adult moths are night
fiers. and if tubers are left exposed
over nj ght when dug in the fall, thus
causing an infestation in the tubers in
storage
The potato tuber moth is difficult to
control. as i: is impossible to reach the
larvae in the mines in the stems and
tubers in the field. This makes it
necessary to proceed against the pest
by other methods, of which several
should be employed for the best re-
suits.
First: Only those potatoes known
to be absolutely free from any signs OF
the pest should be used for seed.
Second: Deep planting and killing
should be practiced.
Third: With this, as with most all
other insect pests, one Of the most i'm
portant measures Of control is clean
culture. All weeds IN about the po-
tato patches should be destroyed by
burning. This will eliminate breeding
and alternating places for the insect.
Fourth: Potatoes should be dug as
early in the fall as possible, and not
allowed to remain in the field oyer
night unless carefully covered.
Fifth-At digging time all tubers
found infested should be put in bin
and fumigated. Infestation can be
detected by the presence on the tu-
bers of the excrement of the moth.
After the tubers have been sorted and
placed in the bin they should be fumi-
gated with carbon bisulphid Cor BIZ
sulphid of carbin, as it is also known
in order to kill any stage of the insect
present at this time.
Carbon bisulphid is applied by pour
ing it into fiat vessels, such as pie tins
or milk pans. An average of three
pounds should be used in each one
thousand (1000) cubic feet Of all
space. The tins should be placed on
the tubers. The gas, being heavier
than air, penetrates downward through
the mass to the bottom. The bin
should be tightly closed for "a to Sc
hours, without injuring terminating
power of the potatoes.
AS this gas is very inhammable, and
serious fire or explosion may result,
the utmost care should be take that no
fire, such as a lighted cigar, electric
fan, stove, or gas light or lamp should
be brought into the vicinity of the gas.