Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-22
Weekly Bureau Of In
formation for All Who
Till the Soil or Are In
terested in Making Homes
LEOPARD MOTH;
DANGEROUS INSECT PEST

and the cutting of and destroying OF
affected branches arc recommended as
tho most effective measures for Ee'-
ting rid of this pest. The insect feeds
on the wood Of large number Of
shade trees and shrubs aud does much
damage along The Atlantic scahoard
between Massachusetts and New Ter.
sey and in the hudson River Valley.
In the caterpillar. or larvn stage. tho
leopard moth cats into the trees upon
which It feeds. aud not ouly checks !ta
growth, hut wcakcus il that it is
=. often broken Icy heavy windstormS.
Tho presence OF the pest is indicated
by the whiting Of twiEs or branches
and by communications OF sawdust-likc
castings at the entrance Of the bur
rows. The discovery OF this evidence
should be followed promptly BY tho
pruning away OF all the smaller in
jurcd t~ies or branches. Tho larger
ones may be cut back behind the in
Jury and the stubs covered with graft
ing wax to prevent the entrance OF
other insects. All the woods that has
been cut away should bc promptly
burned. IN order to destroy the cater
pillars within This prccaution also
should he followed with all branches
that have fallen TO the ground after
Nindstorms. Wherever the trees are
so badly injured that there is little
hope OF their recovery, il is best TO
take them out and promptly destroy
them. In the case of trees which are
only slightly affected. and especially IN
the case OF large and valuable trees.
h;sulphid Of carbon can be used cffcc-
lively. 1t is injected into the openings
OF the burrows with & long spoUted oil
can or q glass syringe. and the open
ings are closed Immediately afterwards,
preferably with grating WAN
Carbon b!sulphid must be handled
with care, and precautions taken TO
avoid danger from FIRE and the in
haI!nE Of fumes. This means that the
operator should not smoke while ri
work. On the other hand. there necd
be no fear OF the liquid damaging the
hands.
The leopard moth in its adult form
has spotted appearance. tho semi,
transparent white wings being ;h;clily
dotted with biackish, dark blue. or
greeaish spots. There are also large
black spots on the ,horax aud dark
cross bands on the white abdomen.
The moth LAYS its eggs. either SinEly
o. n groups. during the summer,
usually selecting creviCes in the rough
bark @. trees as convenient place TO
deposit them. The larvae or caterpii
lars hatch about ION days afterwards
and q: once penetrate ,he living wood.
AS .hey feed. they bu-row tunnels
which frequently encrcle completely
the tree or branch When The lacva
has grown 100 large for the branch in
which IT is feeding. d crawls ON; and
moves TO one more suitable. \s the
insect remains in the larva stage, feed
ing IN this way, for nearly TWO years,
IL is capable OF doing great deal OF
damage before Il transforms TO the
pupa or chrysalis stage. This it does
in May ar later. and some time between
May and the end OF September IL
"mcrGes as an adult or moth
Damage by this horer in large parks
is often so severe "a TO render II neCeS
sary TO establish a system OF inspec-
ton. Wherever possible the bisulrhid
OF carbon should be used. Care should
also be taken 10 see that the insect il
not allowed 10 breed in growth tina; Is
near valuable trees The use OF fer
filters will strengthen tn" trees 20
Withstand the attacks of this and other
insects.
The protected and concealed manner
or life OF this borer, which will apply
in tho main to borers in general. rem
ders il very difficult Of treatment by
means or insecticides or other direct
measures. The most efiicacoUs rem
cdial measure consists in cutting of
and destroying affected branches and
IN the injection OF bisulphid OF carbon
into tho holes Of burrows where tho
larvae are at work.
TwiGs or branches which. l., their
u'i!tug or 10y the prcscnc: Of bur
rows showing denominations lC;tSS
or sHwdusi like castings AT their en-
frances indicate the presence of this
horcr should he carefully searched out,
tho smaller ones pruncd away and the
larger ones cut back. and the arpu-
thted nortiGFs promptly burned. The
stubs Sh4Nld Abe coated. preferably with
Hrafting wax. TO prevent the entrance
of Other insects or the spores OF decay
producing fungi, although coal4tar
preparation: containing mineral sub
stances are in some what general usc
for this purpose. After wimdstorms
the affected branches which have fall.
en- 10 the ground and those which re-
main attached to the tree should hn
collected and burned. Wherever tres
show .hat they are past recovery IL
+ hes; 10 take them out ana promptly
destroy them The word promptly"
l. used adviSediy, since this insect. as
previously stated, frequently ruiuratts
from ono :wig or branch to ano.hcr
In The case Of young and rare trees
an2 others which show only & few
iarNal burrows in the bark uisulUhid
OF carbon IS 'hc best remedy and one
which has been IN general use arainvt
IN" present species in the public park.
~ Hew York Ii;y. II is injected into
inc openings o: The burrows and Tho
openings are immediately atterva rio
closed with various substances 20,
thls injection q mechanics lon.-Snoui.d
OF! can of small Size may. Gt useG on
large trees, but against n related spn
cues the writers have made very good
use Of small glass syringe. sucl, :s
may lie purchased at dru; stores for
aooui 10 cents rhes" glass sy,Inses
are most sc!Viceablc because ,h, ov
act amount Of hisuirhid may H., seen
when drawn into The syringe ana D.
cause there is no threading to l.. in
jured by The reagent Metal syringe
may also b. used, but ii g.. more ,iiU-
cult 20 measure the enact amount ana
IN" biiN!pn1d acts ON INC Leather r.,,l, :
ing Rubber Syr.nges are not service
aple hecalse OF rapid corrosion Abou,
teHspoontul of The liquid h,siIpniG
- sufficient for each burrow
For s'opping ia" holes after inject.
'nF the liquid. pItty aud mois, cl,v
advised by some, have been .o,i,d 49,
!;"nN useless Grating wax. on the
"theF hand' gives perfect satisfaction
coal tar is less adj. sable, hu; ma ,,o
substituted for The latter. or tho Hole.
may be closed by inserting "a ,rn,d..''
pug and breaking or saving - oo
even with tn" trunk ", any Gas. NO
stopner should he tight 10 c,.,,,,in