Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-19
EXPERTS TO SEEK
PARASITE FOR WAR
UPON PEACH MOTH
Both Europe and Australia
Win Be combed for Foe
Of Spreading Pest.
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GOVERNMENT UNABLE
TO DETERMINE ORIGIN
Insect Seemed to Spring From
Nowhere, Puzzled Entomol-
ogists Say.

Arrangements for an expedition TO
Europe and Australia this year, to hunt
for an insect which will eat the Oriental
peach moth, have been made by the
Bureau Of Entomology OF the Depart
ment Of Agriculture. i
This moth probably is the most nox-
ious Of local insect pests. 1t not only
does serious damage to the backyard
fruit trees of the District, but orchards
in nearby Virginia and Maryland also
are heavily infested. It arrived in
Washington with the first importation
of Japanese cherry trees and has since
made steady progress.
At first the bug was thought a native
Of Japan, but investigation by Japanese
entomologists showed 1t had arrived in
that country. for the first time shortly
before the cherry trees were shipped. 1t
since has done considerable damage
there. It Is close relative of some
European insects, which led to the con-
clusion it originally came from there.
1t was found in Southern Europe, but
Investigators learned that It's arrival was
almost as recent as In. Japan.
Came From Nowhere. ..
The first actual report of the moth
was made from Australia, about 10
years before 1t was found In Japan. but
1t has slight relationship to any insect
of the antipodes. That 1t originated
there, entomologists believe. is hardly
credible. It appears to have come sud-
denly from nowhere.
Within the last year, reports have
been received Of al interior valley in
France famous for its peaches, all OF
which are used in making peach brandy.
This has very slight moth infestation,
as French specialists have found q para
site, which produces two broods year,
that apparently keeps 1t down. Some
Of these parasites probably will be
brought to the. United States, but they
will not be released until after a care
full study. of their behavior, because
when the balance Of nature is upset by
such an introduction, the remedy is
sometimes worse than the pest.
From France the expedition, in charge
OF G. J. Haeussler, will proceed to Italy,
where moth infestations also are re-
ported. Or. A. L. Quaintance Of the
Bureau OF Entomology believes Europe
offers the most fruitful field for finding
the parasite which may have kept the
moth down for centuries so it was I'M
noticed. Although first discovered in
Australia. the moth has been kept In.
fair control there by local bugs.
Attack Growing Twigs. II
The larvae of the moth attack tender
growing twigs of peach, pear, ounce,
cherry and plum trees. eating out tun-
nels in the interior of the twigs from
2 to s inches long. It Is not unusual
for one insect to attack two or three
twigs. After this process 1t spins q co..
coon, from. which 1t emerges as a moth.
Sometimes every twig Is injured. The
principal damage comes from stunning
the growth of the tree. The worst COM
mercial loss Is from the larvae boring
into fruit. They are especially damag-
ing to ounces, sometimes attacking
every fruit In an orchard. Their spread
Is partly due to infested fruit thrown
out by housewives.
The adult moths do little damage and
are familiar figures In orchards at sun
down. One female lays from 400 to 200
eggs in q season, and In the vicinity Of
Washington there are four or I'VE
-broods o year. Several native parasites
have turned to. these insects and have
kept down the infestations. but entomol-
ogists long have felt the need Of q more
effective natural enemy.
Are Seeking Parasites.
Bureau of Entomology expeditions are
In Japan and India seeking parasites
for the dreaded japanese beetle, which
made its first appearance in Washing
ton three years ago and has spread rap
idly. Already several insects which feed
naturally on these beetles have been
found. and one probably will be re-
leased here this year, The worst IN
tested spot is on Morrison street in
Chevy Chase.
So far the bureau has hesitated to att
tack the BEETLE here with parasites be-
cause the infestation was not large
insects. This might mean that they
would turn to other forms of food. The
parasite to be released ordinarily feeds
only on Japanese beetles or on the white
grubs OF the brown May beetles, q close
" related species, which are natives OF
the District, and do little harm.
\ It may normally be expected, DR..
Quaintance said, that there will be some
increase in the japanese beetle infesta-
ton this year, but it still is very patchy
around Washington and causes little
damage.
area inexpensively. and the bureau is
interested chiefly In checking its natl-
raj spread further South by means OF
infected shipments or by automobiles.
The pest is kept normally under control
throughout Eastern Asia by parasites.
which have arisen naturally through
many generations, since nature always
Is striving to restore the balance. When
It moves to new locality 1t finds NJ
natural enemies for few years af1t
reaches enormous numbers unless artifi-
ciai parasites are introduced.
The bureau also plans to send an ex
petition, the personnel Of which has nc
been selected, to the Malay States on 4
hunt for parasites for the white citrr
fly and the spiny ny. which are no
very damaging to citrus crops through
cut the South. This expedition viii L
undertaken in cooperation with til
Cuban Department tof Agriculture.
col 0NISTS' DAUGHTERS