The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1938-07-29
War On Japanese
Beetles
Federal And State Experts
Survey Infested Area
In Cecil County

A graphic picture of an advancing
horde Of Japanese BEETLES, winged
army of millions of tiny crop des-
troyers, was presented to Federal
and State agricultural experts on
Thursday, during BEETLE tour" of
Maryland's worst-infested county.
Approximately one hundred dele
gates from various sections Of the
state, travelling in twenty-fve-car
caravan, wheeled through Cecil
county farm lands to see huge piles
of the dead insects, millions Of live
ones feeding on corn, apples, soy
beans and other crops, and whole
fields blighted and ruined by the
half-inch green and copper colored
pests.
On two farms alone more than 20,-
100000 dead beetles-captured and
trapped and burned, "stewed" alive
or simply piled in sacks to die natur-
ally-presented an object examples
of experimental means of extermin-
ating the menace.
DR.. Ernest N. Cory, Maryland
State entomologist, warned the visit
ing farmers that the beetle plague
was moving slowly down-State at
the rate of about ten miles a year
and that areas now comparatively
free of infestation face the same
plight which already has cost Cecil
farmers thousands of dollars in pro-
fits per year.
The tour was directed by DR..
George Langford, insect specialist OF
the University of Maryland extension
service, who is in charge of expert
mental beetle control work, and
County Agent J.. z. Miller.
Mayor Henry Mitchell of Elkton
told the group at luncheon discus
sion that city authorities had spray
ed trees, shrubbery and gardens in
Elkton twice this season and had
virtually eliminated the insects.
He Joined other speakers in warn
ing that Maryland cities must be
prepared to take similar precautions
If their parks and trees are to escape
the menace of the beetle. Repre-
sentatives from the Eastern Shore
and Western Maryland reported ia
panese beetles were being found In
their sections in small numbers now
and apparently were increasing.
DR.. G. H. Hadley, chief of the Ja-
panese beetle control division Of the
United States Department of Agri-
culture, described efforts being made
by the Federal Government to con-
troll the infestation, and cited results
of studies made in Japan, where the
bug originated, but where it Is "prs-
senting no economic problem what
soever."
| Parasites present in Japan account
for a natural control there, he ex-
planned, and use of the parasites
a type of wasp-is being extended In
the United States. The wasp digs In
to the ground, stings the grub OF
the beetle and lays an egg on it, he
said. This egg becomes a maggot,
which destroyes the grub before it
becomes beetle.
800 Wasp Colonies Established
More than 800 colonies Of the
wasp parasites have been established
in Maryland this year, and more
than 1,127 established throughout
the the principal beetle area of the
nation extending along the eastward
portion of the United States from
New Jersey to the south.
The wasp feeds only ON Japanese
beetles, he said, presenting the in
escapable fact that it could not, with
out eliminating itself, destroy ia
panese beetles entirely.
Maryland's beetle control program
this year is being financed through q
100000 fund provided by Federal,
State and county appropriations,
which officials asserted, must be con-
tinued If the control work is to be
effective.