The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-19
MARKED Decrease IN Gypsy
moths During PAST YEAR
Report of Government Entomologist
Shows Progress of Campaign Against
Insects Attacking Animals and Crops
As Well AS the Health of Man

Washington, D. c., Dec. 19.-The
control of such dangerous insects as the
gipsy MOTH cotton-boll weevil, alfalfa
weevil, green bug and potato tuber-
moth, has kept the office of the United
States Department of Agriculture S
entomologist busy during the past year,
according to the new annual report. Be
sides directing its attention to combat
ing insects. that attack crops, the office
has been active in attempting to eradi-
cate insects that affect the health of
man and animals, such as malaria-bear-
ing mosquitoes, the spottedfever tick,
and the typhoid fly. Special attention
has been given to insects iniuring for
ests and those affecting stored products
such as grain, -four, prepared cereals,
meat and cheese Work in bee culture
has also progressed satisfactorily.
The gipsy moth campaign, waged
also against its cousin the browntail
moth has been very encouraging, there
being a marked decrease this year in
the numbers of both these pests. Para
sites and beetles that attack these dan
gerous insects have been introduced and
have been largely instrumental in bring
ing about good results. COlored posters
were prepared by the office illustrating
the gipsy moth and its natural enemies
and these were posted in all postoflices
and town offices in the infected districts
and copies were sent to oranges and
public libraries. The campaign has also
been waged by mail and Boy Scouts
who have distributed cards bearing the
same illustrations.
A combination spray, composed of
lime-sulphur, arsenate of lead, and nico-
tine. has been used successfully during
the year by many orchard growers, to
control insects and fungous diseases.
Other poisons to control orchard insects
have been developed and are now being
tested. Arsenical sprays are being
made more practicable for use in com
batting cranberry pests in New Jersey.
Effective spraying has also been done
in the pecan orchards of the South, in
terested growers aiding the department
in the work. Remedies are also being
recommended and developed for pests
that endanger apple, peach and pear or
chards.
The boil weevil did about $50, 600,
600 worth of damage to the cotton crop
port of the entomologist. Nearly 49,
900 square miles of new territory be-
came infested during the year. Every
effort is being made to control these
depredations, particularly by the use of
powdered orthoarsenate of lead, and
hand picking of cotton squares and
bolls. Arsenate of lead was tried with
varying results and the question of its
success under practical plantation con-
ditions to-day remains undecided.
Violets growing around a cotton field
seem TO give another cotton pest, the
red spider, an opportunity to work, and
the de- artment recommends the destruc-
tion of this harmless-appeari flower
to control the spider. Other measures
suggested as a result of Investigations
in South Carolina are the destruction
of winter food plants and pokeweed
around fields, the blowing of wide dust
barriers around isolated infested places
and spraying with potassium sulphid.
Investigations of ''buffalo gnats'
and their possible relation to pellagra
have continued and it now seems unlike
ly that they have any relation to that
dangerous disease. 1t seems more prob
able that the typhoid fly Commonly
spoken of as the "house hy'') does
more to transmit this infection along
with the other numerous diseases laid
at its door.
The typhoid fly itself is given his
share of attention and means of control
by treating manure, where the fly
breeds, are being developed. 1t seems
that the fly can be almost completely
controlled in the manure and the value
of the fertilizer remain unchanged, if
applications of commercial borax are
made at the rate of so pound to 10
cubic feet (S Ibushels) of manure.
Investigations have been carried on
to discover remedies for insects which
damage such forest products as tele-
graph poles, railroad ties and tool
handles. Users of these products are
now putting the results of the Office s
Investigations to practical tests. With
hardwood products liable to attack by
the so-called powderpost beetles it has
been found that kerosene and linseed
oil are effective repellents against these
insects. A rather general utilization of
these oils by manufacturers has follow
Il