Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-17
Birds and Bugs
(Prices Paid friday

we pay much attention to many
things that are in reality Of little val
ue, and neglect other matters which
are OF he greatest interest to man
kind. That's because we are human
and also, very often, obstinate.
When a scientist says that 1t 10 pos
sible for bugs to destroy the human
race, there is loud ha-ha! and again
ha-ha! Even scientists have been
known to be right.
The folks who do not laugh at the
bugs are the ones who raise the food
supply OF the world. They know
that one-tenth of everything produced
Is destroyed by the millions and tril-
lions OF insects that infest their fields.
Do you know that the number of
insect species is greater by far than
that OF the special of all other living
creatures combined?
Do you know that almost 10000. 900
plant-lice have been found on one
tree?
Do you know that single pair of
Colorado potato-beetles, IL allowed to
increase without molestation, would.
IN one season, amount to $4,000, 900?
Do You know that the unrestricted
increase Of one pair of gipsy-moths
would in eight years be numerous
enough to devour all the foliage In
the United States?
Do you know that many caterpiI-
lars daily eat twice their weight in
leaves?
Do you know that there Is a flesh
feeding larva that consumes, in "a
hours, 200 times it's original weight?
do you know that every year in
sects cause a loss of more than ST.
100000 to the farmers, truck raisers
and fruit-growers of the United
States?
These are facts. It is practically
impossible to raise fruit or vegetables
without spraying. Spraying costs
money and, in the long run, the con-
sumers must pay for it. Spraying is
makeshift and not cure.
Let us admit that birds can not save
all the fruit and vegetables, nor can
they eat all the bugs; nor do all birds
eat bugs. The real students of bird
life know these things are impossible,
but what we do know is that insecti-
vorous birds are the natural enemies
Of insect life.
We have carelessly, thoughtlessly
and arrogantly killed our birds, and
have allowed the insects to increase
enormously. 1t is said that 80 per
cent Of the bird life Of the United
States has been destroyed. The Bu-
reau of Biological Survey tells us the
damage done by insects increases
year by year.
We have seed eating birds and in
sectiyous birds. The seed-eating
birds do much good by destroying
weed seeds. The insectivorous birds
feed principally upon insects and
these birds are now protected by law.
All birds at times will eat cultivated
fruit. Generally this is caused by
lack Of their natural food wild ber-
ries. etc. or by one species increasing
to above the normal limits.
Some birds seem to do more harm
than good. The crow, both fish and
common crow. and the English spar
row. an imported bird, are not pro-
tected on account Of the damage
they do.
Insectivorous birds eat an enor-
nous number of insects. A quail TAX
en- in cottonfield in Texas had 127
cottonbol weevils In its craw. An
other taken In Pennsylvania had 101
potato-bugs. A tree-swallow's stom-
ach contained 20 entire chinch- bugs.
Two stomachs Of pinesiskins con-
tanned 1900 black olive scales and 800
pioht-iiSC' All q
ach were found $40 grasshoppers, So
bugs. three beetles and two wasps.
The food of meadowlarks consists of
72 per cent destructive insects and
90 per cent weed seeds. The cuckoo
lives on caterpillars. Fiftyone species
of birds eat hairy caterpillars and SO
species feed on plant-lice. Most hawks
and owls are great destroyers Of mice,
ras and other rodents.
Do not begrudge a few cherries or
a few of your berries to the birds.
They work for you faithfully. How
long would your auto run without
gas?
Put up bird-houses, eliminate the
enemies of bird life, feed the birds in
winter and plant trees, shrubs and
vines to supply the birds with their
natural fruit foods.
From the beginning of time, man
has been the greatest natural enemy
Of birds and exterminator of the vari-
Gus species. Man, with his gun, trap,
cat and dog, has been directly or in
directly responsible for the great de-
crease in bird life during the past
century.
We are UP against a stern condi-
ton. Bugs are increasing. The hui
man race is fighting for its food,
which is it's life.
Become an ally of the birds.