Smyrna times., 1924-08-06
JAPANESE BEETLE FOUND IN
LOAD OF PRODUCE, WILMINGTON
SAID TO HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
FROM NEW JERSEY LAST WEEK
Officers At Once Take More Rigid
Steps to Watch All Trucks of
Produce Entering Delaware

IlOuuCe LAltGLAAlS OCAdW dAC
Wilmington housewives are warned
to be on guard against the japanese
beetle, and to make careful examina-
ton of any produce, especially greens
and vegetables with tops, which they
may purchase in the Wilmington
markets last Wednesday. This warn
/ ing was issued by Frank McCardell in
charge of the local Japanese beetle
quarantine office at Sixth and King
streets, Wilmington, following the
discovery of the insects in a truck
which had hauled produce to King
street market last Tuesday night. 1t
is believed that the produce in which
the beetles were hidden has been
spread throughout the market.
The presence of the insect was dis
covered Tuesday night by William
Valko, 101 East Fourth street, who
stated he was familiar with the beetle
brought them into the quarantine Of
flee a few minutes before twelve
o'clock. He turned them over to B.
R. Geer superintendent of the field
forces, who summoned Mr. NcCOrdell.
The beetle was found by the man on
a truck which hailed from New Jer-
sey. He happened to pass the empty
truck, which was parked at the curb
at Fourth and King streets, ano
noticed the insect crawling about or
the side of it. He Immediately recog-
nized it as being one Of the dreaded
Japanese beetles, and he picked it up
Looking about the truck, he found an
other of the beetles and he picked thi.
one up also.
] The driver of the truck was in ;
nearby lunch room, and the Italian
fearing the insects would crawl ou
of his hand, hurried into store an
got a soft drink bottle, in which h
n placed the beetles. When he cam
! out of the store, the truck had bee
4 driven away. The man did not knO'
y the owners name or the license nun
re Der of the truck, but he had notice
e. that it bore a New Jersey licens
r. With the two beetles in his posse!
e. sion, he hurried to the quarantine o.
IS. fee at Sixth and King streets, whel
IS he showed his capture to Mr.. Gee
Fearing that if he kept the insec'
er alive, they would escape, Mr.. Ge'
Immediately procured some alcoh
in a small speciment bottle, az
thrust the beetles into the fluid. Aft
rs. few desperate kicks, the insec
w. curled up their legs and died.
rs. War On Beetle Is Renewed
''' Mr.. McCardell was not in the Off
ns at the time, but he was summon
a,, ice and within a few minutes after t
discovery of the beetle was makil
Nc. every effort to trace the produ
which had been on the truck, and
on. block the entry of any other beet
laden trucks into the city. The tru'
il is believed, crossed the river trC
Penn's Grove. with a cargo of prodr
which the owner disposed of amo
the farmers on the Wilmington m;
ket. The entire load had been s.
NE before the beetles had been discov
ed, and it is a difficult matter to
- termine whether there were otl
such insects on the truck or not.
1t is believed by the Whining
beetle quarantine officials, howeV
that the truck was covered with
insects, and that, through the circu
ton of the produce throughout
market, the beetles have likewise b
oo ~p widely circulated. All persons
~ -..', purchase any produce in the man
~ ~ are urged to inspect it closely, anC
nc report to the officials any inst
al a. which have the general appearance
an - the beetle. The insect is about
"a size of a potato beetle, but slgl
longer. The head and thOrax
Az shining bronze green in color,
the wing covers tan or brown
airy tinged with green on the edges. AL
the side Of the abdomen are W
spots, with two very distinct W
INC spots at the tip of the abdomen,
- | low tho wing covers