The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-11-23
RENDER SERVICE
TO AGRICULTURE

10 AGRICULTURE
SOUTHEASTERN BIRDS DE
STROY INSECTS
Boil Weevils and Other Destruc
tive Pests Eaten by Many of th'
460 Species of Birds in the Re
gion.
Washington, d. Cat least 81
species of birds found in th'
Southeastern United States are o,
service in destroying the cottor
boil weevil, according to ornithol
ogists of the U. s. Department O.
Agriculture. A much larger mum
Der of the AGO different species
found in the Southeast also rem
der important service to agricul
ture by feeding on various insects
which attack field crops, garden
truck, forage plants and fruit
throughout the region. These
facts have been determined by ex.
tensive field and laboratory studi
es made by the Biological Survey
the results of which have just
been published by the Department
of Agriculture as Farmers Bulle-
tin 755, Common Birds of South
eastern United States in Relation
to Agriculture. +"
The most active Of the 66 feath-
cred enemies of the boil weevil, it
was found, are the orioles, which
are among the few birds actually
taking the insects from the
squares of the cotton plant, and
the swallows, which feed on the
weevil while the latter are in
flight seeking to extend their
: range. In winter the most effic-
lent enemies of the boil weevils
are blackbirds, meadow larks, tit
larks and Carolina wrens. The
cotton worm is eaten by Al speci-
es of birds, of which the cucukoos
are the most effective. These
birds frequently attack the boil
worm and Z feed on the cotton cut
worm.
White grubs, which are a ser
ious pest not only to corn but to
strawberries garden crops and
grasses, are eaten by 81 species of
southeastern birds. Wire worms
and their adult forms, click beetles
another pest of corn, are consum-
ed by 1913 kinds of birds while SIS
species feed on bill bugs, which al
so attack corn. Cutworms, which
often occur in the Southeast in
summer and fall and attack prac-
tically all vegetation, are eaten by
SO species of birds.
Chinch bugs, which are ex-
tremely destructive to corn and
wheat and which are supposed to
have but few natural enemies,
the Biological Survey found are
eaten by "a species of birds. OF
the other insects attacking corn,
the Southern corn root-worm, or
spotted cucumber beetle, is eaten
by &c birds, and the brown root
chafer by 81. The Southern fig
eater, which feeds as well cn other
fruit, is destroyed, by IA spcies of
birds, the crow leading in efficien-
cy,
Of the insect pests feeding on
forage crops, practically all kinds
are eaten by some group of South
eastern birds. One of the most
important of these pests-leafhop-
pers-are consumed by 100 diff
ferent kinds of feathered enemies
in the Southern states and a score
or more of birds feed on the var
ious kinds of clover weevils.
There are many bird enemies of
truck crop pests also in the South
east. From 10 to 33 species of
birds were found to eat each of
the following: Flea beetles, sweet |
potato flea beetles, grapevine leaf
beetles grape flea beetles, bean |
leaf beetles, rice weevils, Colorado |
potato beetles, and the 17-year To-
Gusts. The survey disclosed that |
40 species Of Southeastern birds |
feed on horse flies, which, while |
they do not attack plants, are ex-
ceedingly annoying to both hu-
mans and 7nimals and even trans
nit some forms of disease.
The Biological specialists who
made the survey of insect-eating
birds in the Southeast, draw the |
conclusion that the birds of this
region are much more important !
TO agriculture than is generally |
supposed and that farmers should |
recognize the fact and do all in
their power to protect their feath-
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