Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-30
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL 7. COLLINS.

while the first. second and third gen.
erations continue to give increase as the
months pile up.
The egg inside of the ripe fruit pro-
duceS larvae. and they cause the fruit
TO drop off the tree, carrying the larvae
down to the ground, where they leave
the fruit and enter the ground. There
the larvae are transformed into the fly
which within four days of Matching
from the larval state begins to lay more
eggs-provided there is any ripe fruit
within reach. Without ripe fruit. it
cannot lay, but even after six months
deprivation of fruit host for the eggs,
as demonstrated in laboratory tests. the
old fly will begin laying Immediately if
she finds any fruit of proper ripeneSs,
in spite of the fact that, by that time,
she may be the ancestor of millions,
produced in her gay youth.
x x X
Now therein lies the key to the pres
ent conspiracy of the officials to kill
off the peSt-perhaps First. the eggs
cannot be laid until there is ripe fruit
in which to lay them. So, it is proposed
not to permit any fruit to remain on the
trees after it has come within certain
stage of ripeneSS. Inspectors will en-
force the terms of the quarantine very
strictly. and heavy penalties will be
inflicted on any owner of a tree who
falls to pick every. orange, lemon, peach
or apple before it is fully ripe, and also
tomatoes and certain other vegetable
pests"
No fruit or vegetable will be permitted
to be shipped cut of the quarantined
regions between May / and October 30,
and even after that, all fruit or vege-
tables shipped out. without canning.
will be subject to rigid inspection. Then
If there remain no ripe host fruit on the
Florida trees, no eggs can be laid for
next years Matching.
x X X
That is not the whole reliance of the
pest fighters. however There are four
parasites known to prey on the fruit
files and they are to be imported. The
parasites come from Africa and Aus
tralia. Only one of these naturally
preyS on the particular Mediterranean
fruit fly; the other three prefer other
varieties of fruit flies. but are acquiring
taste for the Mediterranean" in
Hawaii. The one is called the "Opius
humilliS-Silv.' because he was found
by Silvestri when that explorer hunted
in Africa
The parasites sting the larvae Of the
fruit fly while the larvae are still in the
fruit. The parasite is a species of wasp
and is capable of penetrating the thin
skin of certain fruits in which the
larvae lie. but the wasp sting will not
reach its prey in oranges or other thick
skinned fruits. While the parasite will
destroy practically all the larvae in a
cherry or coffee berry. it is effective TO
the extent of not more than 80 per cent
~ \
with longer singers or a parasite which
viii destroy the unmatched egg. Also it
is feared that there may develop para
site upon the parasite Fad infinitum.
y :: X X
Tt is apparent that the danger of losses
running into millions is faced not alone
menaces all fruits and vegetables, and
may spread as far North as Canada.
Though it could not survive Northern
Winter, il might cause serious damage
in the one seasons attack. and spread
up again from the South each succeeding
year. The losses affect transportation,
canning interests and markets through
cut the South especially, but. under the
law of supply and demand the prices Of
all fruits and vegetables will rise.
DR.. Howard suggests that such insect
epidemicS account for the mysterious
OF whole races of peoples
in times prehistoric such as the Mayans
and Toltecs of Mexico Insects may
have caused the bubonic plague ana
the black death which devastated
Europe in the Middle Ages Who
knows but that similar insect swarms
may have caused Pharaoh's distress and
the death of his firstborn?
All entomologists agree with the
Prophet Joel that insect pests are
serious menace to mankind. Cried
Joel: THAT which the palmerworm
hath left hath the locust eaten; and
that which the locust hath left, hath
the cankerworm eaten: and that which
the cankerworm hath left, hath the
eaten. Awake, We drunkards
end weep: and howl, all ye drinkers OF
wine"
Thus farm relief has been an issue for
at least 5000 years, ard somehow It
seems to have been always associated
directly or indirectly with bootleggers.
just as suggested by the ancient ento-
and the more modern
Dr. Howard.
Awake, We drunkardS and weep, and
howl We vets. Ye are charged with
The fruit fly too-from joel to Jonesl
Behold! 1t shall sting your grapes!
(Copyright. 1929. By Pau! " Conins)