La Junta tribune., 1915-06-26
..sCHIzONEURA AAlERICANAr
This u What Afflicss the Elm Tres
n Ii Juata-No Remedy Untn
Next Spring.

The "Schi1oneura Americana" 10
rampant In La Junta and has caused
great havoc among the elm trees,
which many property owners have
been trying for years to establish.
Many Of the young trees in the high
school yard and along San Juan av-
enue have been afflicted, and proper
ty owners In other parts Of the city
will probably find their trees afflict-
ed with the pest. as did the editor of
the great family journal. II they will
take the trouble to examine them. A
few days ago we enclosed one Of the
afflicted leaves In q letter and sent II
to the department Of zoology and
entomology OF the State Agricultural
College requesting information as to
an effective remedy. Yesterday
morning reply was received from
C. P. Gillette. director of the experi-
ment station at the State Agriculture
al College. which is as follows:
"The elm leaf that you send has
been curled by the elm leaf louise
Schiz0neura Americana. This louise
Is extremely abundant on the
American elm In this part Of the
state also. and the infectation is
quite general wherever this tree 10
grown In America.
I'VE do not know the full life hab-
II Of this pest. The lice that are In
the rolled leaves now are rapidly be-
coming winged and leaving the trees.
and within the next two or three
weeks will disappear entirely. Where
they 90. We have never been able to
determine. but during September and
October. the winged lice come back
again from their summer posts and
deposit their young upon the elm
trees. These young are half male
and half females and are wingiess.
Each male deposits q single egg in Q
crevice OF the bark. and this egg re-
mains over winter and matches early
the following spring. Just ~ the
,hnAalAsss agslliqG- -aaA Ahsst lta 49,.
the little lice may BE- found resting
upon the buds waiting for an oppor-
tunity to insert their beaks In order
TO get their first meal. As tho
leaves open. they locate near the mar
gin Of the leaves. and by their pune
lures causes the leaves TO curl. Tho
insect grows two or three generations
very rapidly. producing the large
mass OF lice which can he found Mt
this season OF the year In the curied
leaves.
"The only remedy we can suggest
In the use Of q contact insecticide such
as kerosene emulsion with oil soap.
or tobacco decoction applied Just
rs the buds are about To open. and
after the little lice have hatched.
After the leaves have curled. II ts
Impossible TO get enough Of the In.
secticidc within the rolled leaves to
XIII many Of the lice"
II IL too iate this year To apply .
remedy. as the winged lice will taks
to their aerial submarines and dis
appear la = few weeks more. Next
spring. Just - the buds are about 10
open. the trees should bs sprayed -
suggested In the letter above. aad
there will probably be NO further
trouble or annoyance. The best 10.
srcticide that wc have bssn able 10
find for spraying flowers and plants
IL suipho.tobacco plant aud animal
soap. When dissolved iu water tho
solution. when applied ~ . spray.
will effectuaiiy destroy all insect life.
and will not injure the tenderest
growth. Try it--aext year.