Evening star., 1940-08-01
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Field, Laboratory
And Study
By Thomas r. Henri.

A pale, yellowish worm with an
omnivorous appetite-potentially one OF
the most dangerous stowaways to land
in the United States in a generation
has q toe-hold in four Gulf States
Discovered in time. however, it is
being kept under control and soon may
be eliminated by Federal and State
entomologists who have made intensive
studies of its life habits.
The invader is the white-fringed
beetle. 1t has long been known as q
crop pest in Argentina and Uruguay,
from which 1t has made its way to
the United States. The worms" are its
larvae which feed on the roots and lower
stems of cotton, potatoes, corn and
peanuts besides those of great variety
of vegetables and wild plants. It's threat
lies in the fact that 1t preys upon and
ruins about every kind of crop.
The beetle itself is q dark-gray bug
about a half inch long which emerges
from the soil in the late spring and
proceeds to spread slowly over neigh
borhood, devouring the outer edges OF
leaves This is not serious menace.
Crops in limited areas may be damaged
but not ruined. AS many as 10000 OF
the insects have been found in half
acre patch. They are all females. Like
some other related bugs, this beetle is par
thenogenetic, no males being necessary
to perpetuate the species. The creature
is a very slow mover. The rate If migra-
ton is only from IS to II yards day.
1t stops to explore the food possibili-
ties of every plant it passes. 1t has
curious phobia for darkness moving
group of these beetles has been observed
to stop dead in its tracks when cloud
passed over the sun and remain frozen
until the shadow had passed.
The danger comes from the new gen.
Grafton The adults lay eggs in the soil
around plants and shrubs, from six
teenth to quarter inch deep in the
SOIL From these eggs hatch the yellowish
worms which, through the period when
the plants are getting start, feeds
ravenously on the roots. In some cases
it bores holes through the bottoms of
the stems.
This larva. Federal entomologists
have found, will penetrate the soil to
a depth of six inches. In some fields
as many as 80 per cent of the young
plants are killed. The bug is especially
virulent against Irish potatoes, but may
also be a serious menace to cotton. The
fight against it has included to date an
native South America where agriculture
has become fairly we'll adjusted to it.
Now, with $500 900 Federal appropri-
alton and funds from Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi and Alabama, the Govern
menta is ready to launch blitzkrieg
against it which, it is hoped, will kill
the last individual bug on this conti-
nent Unlike other pests which have
obtained a foothold and have since cost
many millions and forced the abandon
ment of entire agricultural economies
In some regions, this one was discovered
in time. 1t first was reported from
Florida four years ago, which must
have been shortly after it was intro
duced into the country. Already, how
ever. 1t had made good headway and
since then report after report has come
from the four infested States. The in
festation, however. is extremely spotty.
Altogether, says S. A. Rohwer, assistant
chief of the Bureau of Entomology and
Plant Quarantine, not more than 10000
acres scattered through the four States
are known to have infestations
The slow movements of the bug are
Of great advantage In the fight to
control it, The limits of its infesta-
ton in any locality can be plotted
quickly, rigid quarantine established
on the shipment of most agricultural
products from the area and heavy doses
of insecticides used. This becomes
temporary hardship on the farmers and
individual States, realizing the serious
IleSS Oh lIle IueIldCe, are COupeuSauuS
them for the damage caused. Some Of
the heaviest sufferers might have been
the bee keepers. In Louisiana, at least,
bees are being taken to new pasturages
at State expense and compensation
given for broods that are destroyed by
the poison.
1t will be fairly easy with the present
knowledge of its habits and weaknesses,
Mr.. Rohwer says, to keep the bug under
control but complete elimination, de-
manded by its potential seriousness, will
be longer and more expensive job. The
present plan is not to stop until the last
white-fringed beetle has been eliminated.
So long as any individuals remain,
entomologists point out, there is always
the possibility that few will be trans
ported to some new center through
breaks in the quarantine. It is hardy
bug which can sustain long periods OF
starvation and might get firm foot
hold outside its present range If it
went long enough unobserved. 1t can
feed on weeds as well as crops and
farmers are not likely to report what
seems to be only weed-eater.