Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-04-24
How 10 Extermlnate Moths


Washington, ID. C.-The depreda.
tons ar the gypsy and the brown.
tail moths on the fruit and shade
trees have not been ~ serious dur.
lug the past season as in previous
years. Diseases and introduced para
sites have attacked the catrepillars
of these moths and have caused at
least II temorary check on two most
dangerous pests. However. certain
new territory has been infested and
the department of agriculture still
considers il Of vital Of Importance
TINT aggressive measures b. continu-
ed To control these dangerous insects.
II is therefore now issuing bulletin
entitled "The Gypsy Moth and the
Brown-tail Moth. with Suggestions
for Their Control"
The gypsy moth is capable, il
points out, Of causing enormous in
jury to tree growers. In the area
which has suffered most thousands
of trees are dead as result of be-
ing deprived of their leaves by this
pest. Apple and oak trees have been
injured most; pines have also suf-
fered severely. 1t spreads rapidly
and in Europe there it has been
longer in evidence, il has become
seriously injurious to many sections.
The damage il causes is ordinarily
not so severe as is that resulting
from gypsy-moth infestation be-
cause the brown-tail moth does not
have so wide range Of food plants,
and because the bulk of this feeding
IL done early in the season, so that
the trees have an opportunity to re-
cover before midsummer. In the ter
ritory where both insects exist, the
catrepillars Of the gypsy moth sup
plement the work which is done BY
those of the brown tail moth and the
INJURY is therefore greatly increased
One Of the best methods of con- /
trolling the gypsy moth is to treat
the egg clusters of the insect, be- /
tween Angus, l and April |, with
crcosotc. a small amount of lamp
black is added TO discover the treat. .
ed eggs, and il is sold in the gypsy
moth infested district under the name
of gypsy moth creosote." 1t is APP /
piled with brush and penctratcs
the cluster rapidly, destroying The
eggs. Crcosotc may be obtained in
small quantities from nearly all the
large hardware or seed stores in the
infested district. where il usually
sells for about IS cents n gallon.
II secured in larger quantities
much lower price can be obtained.
The brown-tail moth can be con
trolled by cutting of its winter web.
and burning them before the eater
pillars begin TO emerge in April.
These webs should be destroyed by
fire. for if they are simply out from
the tree and left OH the ground the
ratrcpillars will emerge and no benc-
III will result from the work which
has been done.
In orchard practice il is sometimes
to cut the winter webs,
for where an infestation is bad it is I
likely TO have n poorly shaped tree.
Spraying IN the spring is not salts
factory remedy unless the infestation |
S very light, because the catrepil- {
arss, when they occur in large num-
,ers, do not allow the tree TO put
nut foliage to hold the spray ma
erial. The most effective method
$ to spray the trees before the mid l
lie of August, using from six to ten
pounds of arsenate Of lead to one
gallons of water. Before
operations of this sort are I
attempted care should be taken to
determine whether the trees ere well {
infested with egg masses oi the !
moth, for IL the infesta- d
ion is very slight it will be more 4
satisfactory to cut and destroy the
webs.