Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-07-30

be infested. On the other hand. the
aggregate infeStation IN South Carolina
has cost the planters of thar state from
three TO four hundred thousand dollars
a year. and il has been estimated by
experts that the damage in single
season my run TO as much as two mil
lion dollars.
The red spider naturally obtains its
name from its characteristic color, but
there is a great deal OF variation in
this respect. The females at times are
almost green, ana at other times al
most black. The males are of rusty
salmon color. The insects are very
small. being one-fifteenth of an inch
in length. When clustered together in
large groups they produce the charac-
teristic red spots on the cotton leaves
which denote the attack of this pest
The spiders chiefly pass the winter on
wild pIats which support them at those
seasons of the year when cotton is not
available. The most common host
plants are the hedge nettle. the even
ing primrose. the sow thistle, the wild
geranium and the wild vetch. When
the weather warns up in the spring the
spiders multiply rapidly and begin TO
migrate in search of food. They are
generally present in large numbers by
forward proceed to infest cotton fields
in the vicinity of the localities they
inhabited during the winter. The deNel-
opment of the red spider is influenced to
a considerable extent by climatic infiu-
ences Naturally. its activities are re-
duced to a minimum during the cold
months of the year and reach their
maximum during the summer season
Hot dry weather is very favorable Tor
the development of the spider in large
numbers. while cool, wet weather eAerts
the opposite effect. The females lay
normally about six eggs day. but dur
ms, hot spells from fifteen TO twenty
Where cotton fields are badly :nfest-
ed and no remedial remedies are APP
pIied. the spiders seek cover as soon
as the cotton plants die. This is gen.
arallv found along the borders OF the
fields and on the terraces ana rodu
sides and so the pest is ready 10 DesIH
its depredations as soon as warm wea'h
or comes again. Large NUMBERS
spiders pass the winter on culIlEa'eu
--f.1sts Tbsse should be examined
carefully and treated TO destroy Ihe IN
-ac,s As the females are only able
to travel about five inches per III, -.
not over 600 feet in twenty-tour
- II is not a difficult pest TO con-
- whore proper precautions are
- The spidsrs may be distributed
-. ,5asbipe rains and by violent VIM
.s This pest has been tound 10
.t,l about 1873 different xmas Of
~Isnts of which 55 per cent are GUY
,-a+sd and As per cent native OF wiz.
- - attacked by 81 predaceous eneliies
i = oSsrt considerable influence Ii
bcIning TO keep it under contrOL
~, %. sing the red spider the LolloW-
:, .,-e,ssptive measures should De en-
nI6ved: First, begin by dest TOY, ms
-ras5s and trash that may sS1 We
so,,rce of food or cover during 'he
ter season This is a very 80,
and essential step to take. AT tie a.
- of fine year in question there Is
NoLl.-,I,,~ enouph time when other. work
= Dot pressing to permit of the carry
TO into effect of the plan suggested
Wherever weeds are thoroughly Destroyer
"a the ground kept bare and cream INC
5ar,aRe from the red spider In the SUI
ceeding year is very greatly mi -.
Tba NEXT thing is to be certain Ilal
,I.nts cultivated in and about the nome
are kept free from this pest. laIse
number of infestations OF cotton heIuo
can he traced directly to the taot Iha'
the spiders pass the winter ana muir
plying period on such plants as Nlolets'
A thorough spraying of violets when,
e1sr thew show signs of infestation will
check the development of the spider
on pIants of this type and is one OF the
most effective methods to be employed
in controlling this pest.
There are certain chemical sprays
which applied to weeds and oorder
nlants will kill the spider rather quickly.
OF these materials sodium arsenate
used at the rate Of one pound TO twenty
gallons of water is the most satlsIac
tory. It causes a speedy destruction Oh
the insects. II is important to renaem-
~ bnuAver. that il is a deadly poison.
.n5 great care must be taken TO see
that the animals maintained on the
Farm, do not Craze on treated weeds or
border plants. Another good plan Is 10
sDace the cotton plants rather Wldely
- the field When this is done the
mites cannot travel so easily from one
nlant 10 another. In case of close pant
ing the interlocking branches anord
medium of passage from one row 10 an
other Another desirable thing is TO
maintain a dust mulch through cultivat-
f,,- tho crop once a week This inter
feres greatly with the migration OF the
mites The rotation of crops is also
>, he advised since wild grasses and
small grains are apparently free from
Injurious attack by the red spider; hence
20 crops of this character he used after
cotton there is no desirable host plant
for the spider to infest another year
while the use of fertilizers does not
discourage the attack of the red spider
= vigorous plant is In position TO resist
fnfestation to better advantage IMAM one
in moor physical condition.
In this connection II Is important 70
remember that care should be exercised
20 watch the field for infestation by
this mite. When il appears along the
edge of the field. the employment OF
any or ALI of the - thods suggested will
enable it's almost instant control
whereas. if little attention is paid to
such matters the field may become quite
extensively infested before remedial
stems are employed. Under such condi-
lions the losses are likely TO be greatly
exaggerated.
About as spray combinations have
been tested against the red spider. The
following have been found quite salts
factory: First, a spray made of one
ounce of potassium sulphide dissolved
in two gallons of water; second, either
homemade or commercial lime-sulphur;
third kerosene emulsion prepared ac-
cording to the usual formula If the
spray reaches all the mites il will kill
them. but a second spraying one week
individuals as were in the egg stage
at the time of the first spraying. Any
sort OF a spray outfit may be used to