Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-17


growth starts on the rose bushes in the
spring. and throughout the summer
and fall, the young growth and the
flower buds and stems Of rose bushes
are often covered with small green
or pinkish- louise, known as the rose
aphis. which sucks the sap from the
tender portion Of the plant ana
causes an unhealthy curled condition
Of the foliage and disappointment In
the number and quality Of the flowers
produced.
The rose aphs passes the winter in
the egg stage on the stems and dor
mant buds of the rose bushes, accord
ing to A. D. Hopkins, Forest En-
tcmoogist, L. S. Department of Agrl-
| culture The insects Matching from
these eggs reach maturity in about 10
to 20 days, all being wingless. They
are pear shaped ard either bright
green or pinkish in color. At this
stage they begin to produce living
young, each individual in course or
about 90 days producing so to l0o
young, which, on maturity are either
winged or wingless and in turn either
green or pinkish. Thus the tender
growth soon becomes crowded with
various sizes, .colors, and shapes OF
aphides, and, to insure their progeny
with an adequate food supply, the
wingless mothers migrate to less
crowded growth and the winged ones
fly to other rose bushes, each starting
COLONY for herself. In favorable
weather conditions, especially In
humid atmosphere, many generations
may thus follow one another, covering
every bit Of green vegetation on the
bush with their bodies, their cast skins.
honeydew. and the resulting sooty
fungus 1t can easily be seen that.
had every aphis produced in the course
Of a season lived its full life, the prog
eny of single Overwhelming egg
would run into millions.
The presence of ants on the rose
bushes is an indication that the aphls
is present, because the ants collect the
honeydew from the aphides and. to
certain extent, protect the aphldes
from their insect enemies.
Natural Control.
AS above indicated, the rose aphs
thriyes best in CLOUDY. humid. warm
atmosphere, hence with the appear
ance of a hot and dry spell they often
disappear as suddenly as they ap-
peared
Aside from a variety of causes, like
driving rains, winds, etc. which decl-
innate its numbers considerably. the
rose aphis is attacked by other insects
which either devour them or develop
from eggs deposited in their bodies.
Ladybirds. lacewing flies, and the
larvae of two winged flies called
/ surplus flies are among the former
and a number of species of tiny wasp
like insects represent the internal
PARASITES. Sometimes these natural
agencies Of control are sufficient to
keep the aphides so reduced in numbers
that they do little or no harm. Not
withstanding the effectiveness of nat
ural checks, however, their intermit-
tent character unfortunately renders
their help often too late to save the
flower crop. 1t is always advisable,
therefore. to watch rose bushes for
aphides and to apply remedies as soon
as they are discovered.
Remedies.
Fortunately the rose aphis readily
tSuCCumDS TO dTllIlCldl IiieltiOuS VI COI-
troll and, with the different styles Of
spray pumps on the market, there is no
excuse for allowing roses to suffer
from these insects.
The simplest, most commonly used,
and. often quite effective remedy is to
turn a fine but forceful stream OF
water on them by means Of the garden
hose. Applied often enough this gives
satisfactory results.
Solutions Of fishoil or cheaper
grades Of soap are often useful as a
prompt remedy. The soap is used at
the rate Of / pound to 4 gallons OF
water To make the solutions. shave
the soap into the water and dissolve
by heating, adding enough water af-
forwards to make up for evaporation
The best remedy for the rose aphis
is 40 per cent nicotine sulphate "a
liquid which can be purchased in most
seed stores) diluted at the rate Of
part tC 1000 to 2.0QG Darts of water