Evening star., 1944-08-03
This and That
BIZ Charles E. Tr1ce1DelI.
KENNEDY STREET.

Dear Sir.
II was glad to read in your This and
That Of the brown thrasher feeding on
Japanese beetles. I have definitely OBJ
served starlings, robins and English
sparrows feeding on them. In mNVic-
tory Garden, which also contains some
roses, during the past few weeks I have
observed English sparrows clinging to
rose stems and looking to see II there
were any holes in the blooms where
beetles had entered. When such holes
were located the sparrow proceeded to
probe and separate the rose petals until
the beetle was located. When no evil
dence OF the presence of the beetle
was apparent the sparrow moved on
to another bud or open bloom. have
observed this operation q dozen times
and must say that have q greater
respect for this bird now than ever
before. have two beetle traps in my
garden and after dumping the con-
tents in a pail of water have been
emptying the contents In the concrete
alley and crushing them before they
become dry enough to fly. Recently I
have noticed that a large flock of SPAR
rows gather promptly to feed on these
crushed beetles. Perhaps this method
OF destroying trapped beetles rather
than through the use of kerosene has
assisted locally in the development of
an appetite for this pest. 1 have also
seen row of starlings going along
the fairways of Rock Greek golf course
and rather systematically pouncing on
every beetle taking OF from the grass.
Robins seem to have an advantage over
the starlings in locating beetle grubs.
Apparently the robin can detect some
sound being made by the grub. I have
seen this feathered friend cock his head
on one side as if listening, then pro-
ceed to open up hole in the ground
and bring forth beetle grub. Starlings
working the same area as the robin
act as though they were trying to
learn how this was done, but always
return to their method Of opening the
beak and probing blindly until they
strike pay dirt. I am fully convinced
that the reduced number of japanese
beetles in this neighborhood, and there
were millions last year, is due in large
measure to our many feathered friends.
I do not think we need worry greatly
from now on about this beetle.
May add my appreciation for your
splendid articles?
Sincerely, H. w. B."
X y X \
Natural controls undoubtedly are
doing a great deal to end the menace
OF the Japanese beetles.
Perhaps 1t will not be necessary to
Introduce any parasite, as has been
proposed.
The hard shell of the beetle keeps
many birds from getting a taste for
beetles.
Our correspondents method OF crush
ing them should do q great deal toward
giving the songsters . working idea Of
their worth as food.
We often have wondered If the intro
duction of this beetle was as unplanried
as most of us think. It might be that
they were sent forward as advance
troops OF the Jap armies which they
planned to spawn on America. Thanks
to our brave soldiers, sailors, marines
and airmen Of all branches, only the
beetles got ashore. It has long been
suspected-by everybody except the
State Department-that the sons of
Nippon have planned bacterial war
fare. In fact, big book has Just been
issued on the subject. Undoubtedly, as
= people, We are too lacking in suspicion
for our own good
Beetle infestation seems to 20 in
waves. Where they are very bad one
year they are likely to taper Oh the
next. How much Of this is due to con-
sumption by the birds Is hard to say.
There is no doubt, however, that more
and more species are finding them
good eating.
Crushed beetles might be served up
1t about o'clock In the evening 50
that the mother and father 1irds will
be able to carry portions to their young
IN the nest and also get good dinner
for themselves.
1t might be interesting to pour the
contents Of beetle trap down the
hopper OF meat grinder and serve the
flying fends to the birds In : pulpy
state. In this way the she'll would
be ground TO bits and serve the birds
as additional grit. which III 81 them
must have in some form or other to
help digest their food