Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-29
HORTICULTURIST'S KEEN EYE
SAVES D. C.. FROM INSECTS
H. B. Shaw Describes How
He Found Japanese Beetle
in His PetWorth Garden.
Timely Discovery Prevents
Spread of Dreaded Pest
i Throughout City.

Inc opportunity TO De nero comes
to men in strAnge places and under
unexpected conditions.
Thus II. B. Shaw. member of the
staff of the Federal Horticultural
Board, can testify.
Mr.. Shaw devotes his Sunday morn
ing to looking after the flowers in his
yard at 1923 Upshur street-a prosaic
occupation the value of which con-
sists largely in the pleasure it gives
the scientist.
But while he works with the flowers
he keeps his eyes open for any devel-
opment that promises to be new and
instructive. Suddenly his eyes fell
upon a glittering, notwithstanding
beetle of a kind seldom encountered,
which was feeding on a rose leaf.
probably ninety-nine gardeners out of
hundred would have given it only
passing glance.
Mr.. Shaw happened to be the right
man in the right place and his OBJ.
servation may save the District Of
Columbia from loss that might have
run into thousands of dollars to say
nothing Of detraction from the beauty
Of the National Capital.
Most Dreaded of Insect Pests.
The insect was the Japanese beetle,
the most dreaded insect pest in the
United States. The timely discovery
enabled entymologists Of the Depart
ment Of Agriculture to put a curb on
any further spread for the time being;
II only knew the beetle from dead
specimens" Mr.. Shaw said II had
never seen one alive. I usually de-
vote Sunday mornings to looking
after the plants and shrubs about
my home, and always keep an eye
out for everything interesting.
Suddenly my eye fell on this
glistening, metallic beetle. 1t startled
me. I thought I recognized it, and
fortunately was able to capture 1t.
At once killed 1t with carbon disul-
phide and bottled 1t. Then / looked
over every other leaf in the yard to
see If there were any others, but
failed to locate any of them.
"The insect evidently had been on
the rose bush a very short time. AS
is we'll known, 1t rapidly skeletonizes
a leaf. But in my yard its activities
had been confined to single leaf,
and It had only punctured about 10
small holes. Probably 1t had been
deposited there that day."
Scientists Start Search.
The next morning Mr.. Shaw got
In touch with DIR. L. G. Quintance,
assistant chief of the Bureau of
Entymology. who identified the cap
tured specimen as japanese beetle
and sent two experts to the scene.
Afterwards the force was increased
and the utmost diligence used in in
speeding all growing things in Sol
diers' Home Park and Rock Creek
Cemetery. Petworth home owners.
thoroughly alarmed by the report,
eo-operated with the investigators
the search.
on toll 10
discovery proves conclusively that
the Japanese beetle travels by auto
mobile, and that there is an increas'
ing menace Of. it's spread because
of the numerous tourist parties going
through the infested area OF Penn
sylvania and New Jersey. They sus-
pect that in this particular case the
specimen was carried by an auto
mobile which had come into the city
by way of the Georgia avenue pike,
although Mr.. Shaw's house is three
blocks from Georgia avenue and off
the main route of travel.
The beetle found was female.
and if 1t had not been discovered in
the nick of time. probably would
have laid eggs. resulting in large
brood of the beetles in Washington
The Department of Agriculture has
sought In vain a very effective means
of combating the spread of the pest.
Explorers from the Bureau of Enty
mology now are searching in China,
Japan, Korea and Manchuria for
some other insect parasite which
preys upon the Japanese beetle. In
its native land the pest is not so
serious because of these parasites,
but the department will introduce it's
natural enemies only with extreme
caution, for fear they might prove
even more injurious than the beetle.
Object of Quarantine.
/ For several years an iron clad
quarantine has been enforced upon
the infected area. Shipments of
nursery stock vegetables and grains
from the area has been strictly pro-
sfibited except where they have first
4,een treated to insure that they are
mot infected.
! In spite of these precautions. the
nest has spread slowly but steadily.
like an advancing army. from one
3trench to another. 1t crossed the
MARYLAND line last year but thus
far has not appeared in the center
or south of the State. In coming to
Washington ii made a considera
bile tump. and illustrated the increas-
ing menace of its presence.
I Bureau of Entymology scientists
are breathing easier, with con-
viction that the specimen found by
Mr.. Shaw was entirely isolated. and
that no others have been brought in
from the North.
Mr. Shaw's discovery. it was point
-