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Diseases and Insects (view source)
Revision as of 08:52, 12 September 2009
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Fumigation of citrus trees.—In this case, the tree to be fumigated with the hydrocyanic acid gas is covered with an octagonal sheet tent (Fig. 1325) made of six and one-half ounce special drill or eight-ounce special army duck, and the gas is generated in the ordinary way beneath it. The tent is so marked that when in position it is an easy matter to determine the distance over the tent and the circumference at the ground. When these figures are known, the proper dosage may be obtained from the following chart, which has been prepared for a strength of one ounce of cyanide for each 100 cubic feet of space:
Fumigation of citrus trees.—In this case, the tree to be fumigated with the hydrocyanic acid gas is covered with an octagonal sheet tent (Fig. 1325) made of six and one-half ounce special drill or eight-ounce special army duck, and the gas is generated in the ordinary way beneath it. The tent is so marked that when in position it is an easy matter to determine the distance over the tent and the circumference at the ground. When these figures are known, the proper dosage may be obtained from the following chart, which has been prepared for a strength of one ounce of cyanide for each 100 cubic feet of space:
The top line of numbers, beginning at 16 and continuing to 68, represents the distance in feet around the bottom of the tent. The outer vertical columns of larger numbers running from 10 to 49 represent the distance in feet over the top of the tent. The number of ounces of cyanide to use for a tree of known dimensions is found in that square where the vertical column
The top line of numbers, beginning at 16 and continuing to 68, represents the distance in feet around the bottom of the tent. The outer vertical columns of larger numbers running from 10 to 49 represent the distance in feet over the top of the tent. The number of ounces of cyanide to use for a tree of known dimensions is found in that square where the vertical column headed by the distance around the tree intersects the horizontal line of figures corresponding to the distance over. For certain insects it is not advisable to use the full dosage schedule.
Sodium cyanide (NaCN) is coming into use as a substitute for potassium cyanide. When pure, this compound contains 53 per cent of cyanogen; that is, about 33 per cent more of cyanogen than is present in potassium cyanide. It is customary to indicate the strength of sodium cyanide in terms of potassium cyanide; that is, pure sodium cyanide is said to be 133 per cent pure. This means that 100 pounds of sodium cyanide will yield as much cyanogen as 133 pounds of potassium cyanide. For fumigation purposes, sodium cyanide should be at least 124 per cent pure and should not contain more than 1 per cent of common salt.
Because of the greater content of cyanogen of sodium cyanide, a smaller quantity is required. The chemicals should be combined in the following proportions: Sodium cyanide, one ounce; sulfuric acid, one and one-half fluid ounces; water, two ounces.
The following dosage schedule corresponds to the one given above for potassium cyanide:
Nicotine preparations.—Tobacco is used in various ways in fumigating greenhouses. For smoking or smudging greenhouses, tobacco-stems are burned slowly. Best results are secured when a sheet-iron vessel made for the purpose is used, having holes in the bottom to supply draft. A quart of live coals is placed in the bottom of the vessel, and about a pailful of tobacco-stems is laid on them. The stems should not blaze, but burn with a slow smudge. If they are slightly damp, better results are obtained. Some plants are injured by a very heavy smoke, and in order to avoid this injury, and also more effectually to destroy the insects, it is better to smoke rather lightly and often. It is always well to smoke through two consecutive days, for the insects which persist through the first treatment, being weak, will be killed by the second. If the plants are wet, the smoke is more likely to scorch them. The smudge often injures flowers, as those of roses and chrysanthemums. In order to avoid this injury, the flowers should be covered with paper bags. Violet plants are very liable to injury.
Tobacco fumes can be more conveniently generated by burning strips of prepared nicotine paper, or by vaporizing a concentrated aqueous solution of nicotine over alcohol or special kerosene lamps.
Bisulfid of carbon is a thin liquid that volatilizes at a very low temperature, the vapor being very destructive to animal life. It is exceedingly inflammable, and should never be used near a lamp or fire. It is sometimes used for the control of certain root insects. It is poured into holes made around the infested plants, and these are then immediately closed up causing the fumes to permeate the soil in all directions.
Against weevils infesting stored grain and seeds, carbon bisulfid is effective at the rate of five to eight pounds for each 1,000 cubic feet, provided the application is made while the temperature is not below 65° F. Make the bins as tight as possible. If bins are only single sheathed with common flooring use twenty to twenty-five pounds carbon bisulfid. Let the fumigation continue for at least twenty-four hours. Care should be taken not to apply carbon bisulfied when there is indication of heating in the grain. C. R. Crosby. Robert Matheson.
Catalogue of insects.
Abutilon, Abutilon Moth (Cosmophila erosa).—A pale pea-green caterpillar striped with lemon-yellow often defoliates the plants in the southern states.
Treatment.—The young caterpillar may be killed by spraying with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract; one part in 650 parts water, adding soap to make the liquid spread and stick better.
Acacia. Cottony Cushion- Scale.—See Citrus.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Acer. Box-elder Bug (Leptocoris trivittatus) is about ½ inch in length, dark gray in color marked with red. They congregate about box elder in great numbers, on the sap of which they feed. The young nymphs may be lolled by spraying with ordinary contact insecticides.
Cottony Maple Scale (Pulvinaria vitis) ia a brown, soft-bodied, scale insect, ⅕ inch in length. The eggs are laid beneath a conspicuous cottony mass which protrudes from under the scale. The eggs hatch during June and July, and the fertilized females hibernate on the smaller branches. There is one generation annually.
Treatment.—A stiff stream of water will dislodge many of the mature scales in June or July. The young scales may be killed with tobacco extract. The most effective treatment on maples is 15 per cent kerosene emulsion applied during the dormant season to kill the hibernating females.
Green-striped Maple Worm (Anisota rubicunda) is a large, pale yellowish green caterpillar, striped with dark green, that occasionally defoliates the maple.
Treatment.—The young caterpillars may be controlled by spraying with arsenate of lead, four to eight pounds to one hundred gallons of water.
Pigeon Tremex (Tremex columba) is a large four-winged fly having a wing expanse of 2½ inches. The abdomen ends in a prominent ovipositor. The larva, over 2 inches long when full- grown, burrows in the wood, seriously injuring the tree when abundant. Vigorous trees usually overcome the attack.
Plant-lice.—Several species are occasionally injurious.
Treatment.—"Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, three-fourths of a pint to one hundred gallons of water, adding four pounds of soap, is an efficient remedy.
Sugar-maple Borer (Plagionotus speciosus) is very destructive to hard maples. The parent beetle is about an inch long, black, brilliantly marked and banded with yellow. The larva is a large borer about 2 inches in length when mature. They burrow mostly in the sapwood, several often girdling and killing a tree. It is a difficult matter to prevent this injury.
Treatment.—Digging out the borers is the only remedy known.
Woolly Maple-leaf Scale (Phenacoccus acericola) is a soft- bodied woolly-covered insect about ¼ inch long, found on the under side of the leaves. There are two or three generations a year. They hibernate as young on the bark of the trunk and branches.
Treatment.—Winter applications of whale-oil soap, one pound in one gallon of water, have given the best results.
Aesculus. Tussock-moth.—See Apple.
Agave. Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Alder. Alder Blight Anna (Pemphigus tessellata) occurs hi colonies on the branches and appears as conspicuous white, woolly masses.
Treatment.—They may be dislodged by a stiff stream of water or may be killed by spraying with kerosene emulsion.
Saw-fly Leap-miner (Kaliosysphinga dohrinii) feeds between the upper and lower layers of the leaves, causing large blotch mines.
No remedy known.
Allamanda. Citrus White Fly.—See Citrus.
Almond. Black Scale.—See Citrus.
Clover Mite.—See Peach.
Cottony Cushion Scale.—See Citrus.
Pear Thrips.—See Pear.
San Jose Scale.—See Apple.
Aloe. Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Amaryllis. Narcissus Bulb-fly.—See Narcissus.
Ampelopsis. Myron Sphinx (Ampelophaga myron).—Large, green or Brown, smooth caterpillars occasionally defoliate the vines.
Treatment.—Hand-picking.
Annona. Florida Wax Scale.—See Citrus.
Anthurium. Florida Wax Scale.—See Citrus.
Apple. Aphids or Plant-Lice.—There are three species which commonly attack the opening buds and leaves of apple,— the leaf aphis (Aphis pomi), rosy aphis (Aphis sorbi) and bud aphis (Siphocoryne avenae).
Treatment.—These small, soft-bodied insects may be eon- trolled by thorough spraying with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, three-fourths of a pint, in one-hundred gallons of water, adding four pounds of soap. Make the application before the leaves curl.
Apple-Curculio (Anthonomus quadrigibbus).—A soft, white grub, about ½ inch long, living in the fruit.
Treatment.—Clean cultivation. Rake the small apples that drop early out into the sun where they will dry up.
Apple Flea-beetle (Graptodera foliacea).—Brassy, green beetle, ⅕ inch or less long, feeding upon leaves.
Treatment.—Arsenicals. Lime-sulfur or bordeaux mixture as a repellent.
Apple Leaf-hopper (Empoasca mali).—A slender pale yellowish green bug; the nymphs are pale greenish and usually found on the under side of the leaves. The winter eggs are laid in blisters under the bark of the smaller branches; summer eggs, in the leaf veins and petioles. Four generations annually. The insect feeds by extracting the juices from the leaven, causing them to turn pale and curl. It is most injurious to nursery stock.
Treatment.—The young nymphs may be killed by spraying with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, three-fourths of a pint in one hundred gallons of water, adding three to four pounds of soap. Nurserymen often catch the adults by the use of sticky shields.
Apple Leaf-roller (Archips argyrospila).—A green caterpillar with a black head, 1 inch or less in length when mature, attacks the opening buds rolling and webbing together the leaves, flowers and young fruit into a nest. Holes are eaten in the young apples, deforming them. Eggs are laid in June in small, flat masses on the bark and are covered with a smooth varnish -like coating. They do not hatch till the following spring.
Treatment.—To kill eggs spray with miscible oil, one gallon in fifteen gallons of water, making the application as late as possible before the buds open. If the eggs have been neglected, recourse must be had to arsenate of lead, six pounds in one hundred gallons water. Apply before the blossoms open.
Apple Maggot (Rhagoletis promnella).—A white maggot that tunnels apples through and through, causing decay and falling of the fruit. The parent flies appear the latter part of June and early July and insert the eggs under the skin of the fruit. Hibernation takes place in small puparia just below the surface of the soil. Sweet and subacid varieties are most susceptible, but others are sometimes attacked.
Treatment.—Clean cultivation. Spray when flies appear with arsenate of lead, four pounds in one hundred gallons of water. The addition of two or three gallons of molasses is supposed to render the poison more attractive to the flies.
Brown-tail Moth (Euproctis chrysorrhaea).—This highly destructive European insect was introduced near Boston a number of years ago, and is now rapidly spreading over New- England. The snow-white moths, with a large tuft of brown hairs at the tip of the abdomen, appear in July and deposit eggs on the leaves in elongate masses covered with brown hairs from the body of the female. The caterpillars become only partly grown the first season, and hibernate in conspicuous nests, 3 or 4 inches long, at the tips of the branches. The black- bodied caterpillars, clothed with rather long, brownish, stinging hairs, complete their growth the next spring, feeding ravenously on the tender foliage and causing great damage in orchards, parks, and forests.
Treatment.—Cut out and burn all winter nests before the buds start. In the spring, spray with arsenate of lead, as recommended for the gipsy-moth. Prevent the ascent of caterpillars from other trees by banding the trunks with tangle-foot. Keep the bands fresh by combing the surface every few days.
Bud-moth (Tmetocera ocellana).—The small brown caterpillars with block heads burrow into the buds, feeding on the opening leaves and flowers and web them together.
Treatment.—Spray with arsenate of lead, four pounds in one hundred gallons of water, just as the blossoms show pink, and again as the last of the petals are falling.
Canker-worm, Fall (Alsophila pometaria).—Wingless female moths usually emerge from the ground in late autumn, crawl up the trees and deposit their eggs on the smaller branches. The eggs hatch in April or May and the blackish yellow-striped, looping caterpillars defoliate the trees.
Treatment.—Band tree trunks in the fall with tanglefoot or cotton batting to prevent ascent of moths. The young canker-worms may be killed by spraying with arsenate of lead, six pounds to one hundred gallons of water.
Canker-worm, Spring (Paleacrita vernata).—Habits similar to the fall canker-worm, but the moths emerge in March and April. Caterpillars are distinguished by having only two pairs of prolegs.
Treatment.—Same as for fall canker-worm except the bands should be applied in early spring.
Case-bearers.—The pistol-case-bearer (Coleophora malivorella) and the cigar-case-Dearer (C. fletcherella).—The small caterpillars live in pistol or cigar-shaped cases, about ¼ inch long, that they carry around with them. They appear in spring on the opening buds at the same time as the bud-moth, and may be controlled by the same means.
Codlin-Moth (Carpocapsa pomonella).—This is the pinkish caterpillar which causes a large proportion of wormy apples. The eggs are laid by a small moth on the leaves and the skin of the fruit. Most of the caterpillars enter the apple at the blossom end. When the petals fall, the calyx is open, and this is the time to spray. The calyx soon closes, and keeps the poison inside ready for the young caterpillars' first meal. After the calyx has closed, it is too late to spray effectively. The caterpillars become full-grown in July and August, leave the fruit, crawl down on the trunk, and there most of them spin cocoons under the loose bark. In most parts of the country there are two broods annually.
Treatment.—As the last of the petals are falling, spray with four pounds arsenate of lead Id one hundred gallons of water, using a stiff spray to force it into the blossom end of the apple. Repeat the application three weeks later.
Fall Web-Worm (Hyphantria cunea).—Hairy larva, about an inch long, varying from gray to pale yellow or bluish black, feeding upon the leaves of many trees, in tents or webs.
Treatment.—Destroy by burning the webs, or removing them and crushing the larvae. Spray with arsenicals.
Flat-headed Borer (Chrysobothris femorata),—Larva about an inch long, flesh-colored, the second segment ("head") greatly enlarged; boring under the bark and sometimes into the wood. They are readily located in late summer or fall by the dead and sunken patches of bark.
Preventive.—Soap and carbolic acid washes applied from May to July. Keep trees vigorous.
Green Fruit-Worms (Xylinna sp.).—Yellowish or apple-green caterpillars, striped with cream-color, 1 to 1½ inches in length when mature, attack the opening leaves and blossoms and eat holes in the developing fruit. The parent moths emerge from hibernation in early spring and lay their eggs on the smaller branches. One brood annually.
Treatment.—Thorough and repeated spraying with arsenate of lead, six pounds in one hundred gallons of water, will kill many of the young caterpillars. Make the application when blossom clusters appear.
Gypsy Moth (Porthetria dispar).—The full-grown caterpillar is about 2 inches long, dark gray in ground-color with eleven pairs of prominent tubercles on the back, the first five pairs blue, the last six dark red. They become full-grown about the first of July. They pupate in alight cocoons. The moths emerge in seven to seventeen days. The male has a light brown body, wings yellowish brown, and each front wing is crossed by four wavy dark brown lines. In the female the body is light buff and the wings grayish white. The dark markings on the front wings are similar to those of the male. The females do not fly, but each lays its eggs in a mass about an inch in length covered with hairs from its body. Hibernation takes place in the egg stage. The eggs hatch just as the buds are bursting.
Treatment.—Kill the eggs by saturating the masses with crude coal-tar creosote, to which a little lamp-black has been added as a marker. When the young caterpillars batch, spray the trees with arsenate of lead, ten pounds in one-hundred gallons of water. When the caterpillars are half-grown, use thirteen to fifteen pounds of lead arsenate. Full-grown caterpillars are very resistant to poisons. Band the tree trunks with tanglefoot to prevent the ascent of wandering caterpillars.
Leaf-blister Mite.—See Pear.
Leaf-crumpler (Mineola indigenella).—Reddish brown caterpillars that live in slender, horn-shaped cases and feed on the tender leaves. They hibernate as partly grown larvae and attack the opening buds the following spring. They usually live in a nest of several leaves fastened together with silk.
Treatment.—Gather the nests and burn them. Arsenicals when the buds open.
Lesser Apple-worm (Enarmonia prunivora).—Similar to the codlin-moth, but larvae often feed just under the skin of the fruit, causing blotched areas.
Treatment.—As for codlin-moth.
Oyster-shell Scale (Lepidosaphes ulmi).—This is an elongate scale (sometimes called bark-louse), ⅕ inch in length, resembling an oyster-shell in shape and often incrusting the bark. It hibernates as minute white eggs under the old scales. The eggs hatch during the latter part of May or in June, the date depending on the season. After they hatch, the young may be seen as tiny whitish lice crawling about on the bark. When these young appear, spray with kerosene emulsion, diluted with six parts of water, or whale-oil, or any good soap, one pound in four or five gallons of water. Where trees are regularly sprayed with lime-sulfur, as for the San Jos6 scale or blister mite, the oyster-shell scale is usually controlled.
Palmer Worm (Ypsolophus pometellus).—The brownish green, white-striped caterpillars, ½ inch in length when mature, skeletonize the tender foliage in June and eat holes in the young apples. There is only one brood a year.
Treatment.—Spray with arsenate of lead, four pounds in one hundred gallons of water when the caterpillars first appear.
Plum-Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar).—A snout-beetle that deforms the fruit by its characteristic feeding and egg-laying punctures. The grubs develop in the fruit and cause it to fall.
Treatment.—Spraying with arsenate of lead, as for codlin- moth, whenever it can be applied with a fungicide so as not to increase expense, will help to control the trouble. Thorough superficial tillage of the- surface of soil during July and August will kill many of the pupae, and is recommended. For treatment on plum, see under Plum.
Red Bugs (Heterocordylus malinus and Lygidea mendax).—The winter is passed as eggs inserted in the smaller branches. The brilliant red nymphs appear as the buds open and feed on the foliage for a time. Then they puncture the newly set apples causing one of three things: some drop, some dry up and remain on trees till next spring, and others mature as knotty, misshapen, worthless fruit. One generation a year.
Treatment.—The young nymphs may be killed by thorough spraying with "Black leaf 40 ' tobacco extract, one pint in one hundred gallons water, adding four pounds of soap, (1) when blossoms show pink, (2) when the last of the petals are falling.
Red-humped Apple Caterpillar (Schizeura concinna).—These red-headed, black-and-yellow-striped caterpillars with a red hump on the fourth segment often attract attention in August and September by feeding in colonies on the ends of the branches.
Treatment.—Spray for the young caterpillars with arsenate of lead, four pounds in one hundred gallons of water. As they are most troublesome on newly planted trees the older caterpillars may be shaken to the ground and crushed under foot.
Ribbed Cocoon-maker (Bucculatrix pomifoliella.—A minute yellow or green larva feeding upon the upper surface of the leaves, causing the lower surface to turn brown. The cocoons are white and slender, and are laid side by side upon the under side of twigs, where they are conspicuous in winter.
Treatment.—Lime-sulfur while tree is dormant. Arsenicals for the larvae in summer.
Rose-chafer.—See Grape.
Round-headed Borer (Saperda Candida).—A yellowish white grub with dark brown head, about 1 inch long when mature, t is said to remain in the larval state three years. The parent beetle in silvery white on the head and beneath; the thorax and wing-covers are light brown: two silvery white stripes extend from the head to the tip of the wing-covers. The eggs are laid in slits in the bark, mostly in June.
Preventive.—Keep the beetles from laying eggs by spraying the trunks several times during the spring and summer with kerosene emulsion or by coating them with an alkaline wash made from soap, caustic potash, and carbolic acid. Tarred paper tree-protectors well tied at the top, or wire mosquito- netting protectors closed at the top and encircling the trunk so loosely that the beetles cannot reach the bark, are effective in preventing egg-laying. Practise clean cultivation, and do not let water sprouts or other rank vegetation encircle the base of the tree.
Remedial.—Dig out the borers whenever they can be located by discolored bark or by the sawdust thrown out of the burrow.
San Jose Scale (Aspidiotus perniciosus).—This scale is nearly circular in outline and about the size of a pinhead. When abundant it forms a crust on the branches, and causes small red spots on the fruit. It multiplies with marvelous rapidity, there being three or four broods annually, and each mother scale may give birth to several hundred young. The young are born alive, and breeding continues until late autumn, when all stages are killed by the cold weather, except the tiny, half-grown, black scales, many of which hibernate safely.
Treatment.—-Spray thoroughly in the fall after the leaves drop, or early in the spring before growth begins, with lime- sulfur wash, one gallon in eight gallons of water, or miscible oil, one gallon in fifteen gallons of water. When badly infested, make two applications, one in the fall and another in the spring. In case of large, old trees, 25 per cent crude-oil emulsion should be applied just as the buds are swelling.
Scurfy Scale (Chionaspis furfurus).—This whitish, pear- shaped scale, about H inch in length, often incrusts the bark, giving it a scurfy appearance. It hibernates as purplish eggs under the old scales.
Treatment.—Spray as recommended for oyster-shell scale.
Tent-caterpillars (Malacosoma americana and M. disstria).— Larvae nearly 2 inches long, spotted and striped with yellow, white, and black; feeding upon the leaves. They congregate in tents or in clusters on the Dark at night and in cool weather, and forage out upon the branches during the day.
Treatment.—Arsenicals, as for codlin-moth. Burn out nests with torch, or cut them out and crush the larvae. Pick off egg masses from twigs during winter and spring.
Tussock-Moth (Hemerocampa leucostigma).—A handsome, redheaded, yellow and black tufted caterpillar, about an inch long, which devours the leaves and sometimes eats into the fruit.
Remedial.—Collect the frothy egg-masses in fall and winter and band the trees to prevent a reinfestation by migrating caterpillars. Spray with arsenicals as for codlin-moth, taking care to cover the under side of the leaves.
Twig-borer (Schistoceros hamatus).—Beetle, ⅛ inch long, cylindrical and dark brown, boring into twigs of apple, pear, and other trees. The beetle enters just above a bud.
Treatment.—Burn the twigs. The early stages are passed in dying wood, such as prunings, diseased canes, and in upturned roots. Burn such rubbish, and thus destroy their breeding- places. This is also a grape pest.
Twig-Girdler (Oncideres cingulatus).—Small branches are often girdled by a handsome ash-sprinkled reddish brown beetle, about H inch in length. The girdled twigs soon fall and the grubs develop in the fallen branches.
Treatment.—Collect and burn all fallen branches.
Woolly Aphis (Schizoneura lanigera).—Small reddish brown plant-lice covered with a conspicuous mass of white, waxy fibers, found on the branches, sprouts, trunks and roots.
Treatment.—For the form above ground drench the infested parts with 15 per cent kerosene emulsion; for the underground form remove the earth beneath the tree to a depth of 3 inches, and apply 10 per cent kerosene emulsion liberally, and replace the earth. In the case of nursery stock the emulsion may be applied in a shallow furrow close to the row. Do not set infested trees.
Yellow-necked Apple Caterpillars (Datana ministra).— Apple branches are often defoliated in late summer by colonies of black- and yellow-striped caterpillars about 2 inches in length when mature.
Treatment.—Same as for Red-humped Caterpillar, which see.
Apricot. Bark Beetle.—See Peach.
Black Scale—See Citrus.
Canker-worms.—See Apple.
Clover Mite.—See Peach.
Cottony Cushion Scale.—See Citrus.
European Fruit Lecanium.—See Plum.
Frosted Scale (Eulecanium pruinosum).—A large soft-bodied scale, ½ inch in length, hemispherical in shape with a frost- like covering of wax.
Treatment.—Kerosene or distillate emulsion while the trees are dormant.
Peach Tree-borers.—See Peach.
Pear Thrips.—See Pear.
Plum-curculio.—See Plum.
Aquilegia. Columbine Borer (Papaipema purpurifascia).—The full-grown caterpillar measures 1⅜ inches in length, salmon- pink in color with three narrow stripes visible from above, the two lateral ones broadly interrupted in the middle. It bores in the stems near the base.
Treatment—Dig out and destroy caterpillars.
Artichoke. Stem Maggot (Straussia longipennis).—A small yellowish maggot boring in the pith of the stems. The adult are two-winded yellowish flies with banded wings.
Treatment.—Encourage growth; vigorous plants outlive injury.
Asparagus. Common Asparagus-beetle (Crioceris asparagi).— Beetle, less than ¼ inch in length, yellow, red, and shining black, with conspicuous ornamentation, feeding upon the tender shoots. Larva feeds upon the leaves and tender bark.
Treatment.—Freshly slaked lime dusted on before the dew has disappeared in the morning. Poultry. Cut down all plants in early spring to force the beetles to deposit their eggs upon the new shoots, which are then cut every few days before the eggs hatch; or leave a row or so around the field as a lure for the beetles where they may be killed with arsenicals.
Twelve- Spotted Asparagus-beetle (Crioceris 12-punctata).— Similar to the last, but with twelve spots on the wing-covers.
Treatment.—Similar to that used above, except that the grubs cannot be destroyed by lime, since they live within the berry.
Asparagus Miner (Agromyza simplex).—A maggot mining under the skin near the base of the plant.
Treatment.—Leave a few volunteer plants as a trap in which the fly will deposit her eggs. Pull and burn these plants in late June and early July. The flies may be killed before ovipositing with sweetened arsenate of lead.
Aspidistra. Florida Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Aster. Blister Beetles.—Large, black, grayish or striped beetles that feed on the flowers. The larvae in general feed on grasshopper eggs.
Treatment. —Hand-picking.
Tarnished Plant-bug (Lygus pratensis).—An active bronzy brown sucking bug H inch long, mottled with various shades of yellowish, that stunts the terminal buds by its feeding punctures and also injures the flower-buds so that they either do not open or produce imperfect flowers. Injured plants are dwarfed and stunted.
Treatment.—No satisfactory control measures are known. Plants grown in shade are less liable to injury.
Root-louse (Aphis maidiradicis).—Small bluish green plant- lice infesting the roots, causing the plants to turn yellow and sickly.
Treatment.—Mix tobacco dust into the soil around the plants when transplanting.
White Grubs.—See Corn.
Aucuba. The Yellow Scale.—See Citrus.
Avocado. Leaf-roller (Amorbia emigratella).—A yellowish green caterpillar striped with pinkish brown, about 1 inch long when mature, rolls the leaves and eats small holes in the fruit, rendering it unfit for sale.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead when the caterpillars appear.
Mealy-bug (Dactylopius nipae).—A small unarmored scale with white mealy covering.
Treatment.—Kerosene emulsion, one part to ten parts water.
Bamboo, Cottony Bamboo Scale (Antonina crawi).—-Small purplish red scales ⅛ to ¼ inch in length, covered with a dense cottony coating; often ½ inch in diameter. They collect in large numbers in the crotches and leaf-axils.
Treatment.—Repeated applications of kerosene emulsion.
Plant Louse (Myzocallis arundicolens).—Small yellowish lice which collect in large numbers on the under surface of the leaves.
Treatment.—Contact sprays.
Banana. Banana Weevil (Sphenophorus sordidus}.—A small grub boring in the stems.
Florida Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bug (Ceroputo yuccae).—Soft scales closely resembling the common mealy-bug (Pseudococcus).
Treatment.-—Kerosene emulsion.
Bean. Bean Lady-bird (Epilachua corrupta).—A light yellowish brown lady-bird beetle, with four black spots on each wing- cover, attacks and devours all parts of the bean plant. The larva, which is yellow and covered with stout branched spines, also feeds on the bean.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead or kerosene emulsion.
Bean Leaf-beetle (Cerotoma trifurcata).—A pale yellow beetle H inch in length, with black markings on the wing-covers, often eats round holes in the leaves. The larvae feed on the roots and main stems of the plants.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead as soon as the beetles appear.
Bean-weevil (Bruchus obtectus).—Closely resembles the pea- weevil, which see for description and remedies. Holding over the seed will be of no value with this insect.
Corn-ear Worm.—See Corn.
Cutworm.—See Corn.
Pea aphis.—See Pea.
Seed-corn Maggot (Pegomya fusciceps).—A maggot attacking germinating seeds and roots of young plants.
Treatment.—Avoid stable manure; practise crop-rotation. In the garden, use sand moistened with kerosene around the plants to keep the flies from laying the eggs.
Beet. Beet Aphis (Pemphigus betae).—A root-infesting plant- louse locally abundant in certain western states.
Treatment.—Rotation of crops.
Beet Leaf-hopper (Eutettix tenella).—A small, pale yellowish green leaf-hopper punctures the leaves, causing the disease, curly top. Present in the western states.
Treatment.—No satisfactory treatment known.
Buster Beetles.—See Aster.
Cutworms.—See Corn.
False Chinch Bug (Nysius angustatus var. minutus).—Small grayish brown bugs, ft inch in length. Destructive to sugar beets grown for seed.
Control.—Contact insecticides; clean cultivation.
Grasshoppers.—See Corn.
Leap-miner.—See Spinach.
Larger Beet Leaf-beetle (Monoxia puncticollis).—A dull brown beetle with striped wing-covers. Both larvae and adults feed on the sugar beet, often in immense numbers.
Treatment.—Same as for Flea-Beetles. See Potato.
Flea-beetle.—See Potato.
Western Beet Beetle (Monoxia consputa).—A beetle closely allied to the larger beet leaf-beetle, feeding on the leaves, leaving only the veins.
Treatment.—Same as for Flea-Bettles. See Potato.
Beet Army Worm (Laphygma exiqua).—A large caterpillar about 1¼ inches long when mature, olivaceous to greenish in color, broadly striped with lighter green; defoliates the plants.
Treatment.—See Army Worm, Corn.
Beet Web-worm (Loxostegs sticticalis).—Pale yellowish green caterpillars striped with lighter green, about ¾ inch long, frequently defoliate the plants in certain regions.
Treatment.—Destroy all weeds. Spray with arsenate of lead.
Begonia. Greenhouse Thrips.—See Citrus.
Greenhouse White-fly.—See Tomato.
Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
White-fly.—See Citrus.
Berberis. Barberry Plant-louse (Rhopalosiphium berberidis).— Small, greenish yellow lice attacking the leaves and young growth.
Treatment.—Tobacco extract or kerosene emulsion.
Betula. Birch Aphis (Callipterus betulaecoleus).—A small, yellowish plant-louse occasionally abundant on the under side of "birch foliage (cut-leaf varieties).
Treatment.—"Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract three-fourths of a pint to one hundred gallons of water.
Birch Leaf Bucculathix (Bucculatrix canadensisella).—Small, whitish larva- skeletonizing the leaves.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead, six pounds in one hundred gallons water.
Bronze Birch Borer (Agrilus anxius).—Slender, flattened yellowish white grubs, ¾ inch long when full-grown, burrow under the bark on all parts of the tree. The top branch usually dies first and is the first indication that the tree is infested.
Treatment.—Cut down and burn all infested trees immediately to prevent spread to other trees.
Frosted Scale.—See Apricot. Occurs in California on birch.
Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
Bignonia. Hemispherical Scale.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Billbergia. Pineapple Scale.—See Pineapple.
Blackberry.—See Bramble Fruits.
Bramble Fruits. Blackberry Leaf-miner (Metellus rubi).—A greenish white larva with brown markings, 1/3 inch in length when full-grown, causing blotch mines in the leaves.
Treatment.—No satisfactory treatment known.
Cane-borer (Oberea bimaculata).—Beetle, black, small, and slim; making two girdles about an inch apart near the tip of the cane, in June, and laying an egg just above the lower girdle; the larva, attaining the length of nearly an inch, bores down the cane. Also in blackberry.
Remedy.—As soon as the tip of the cane wilts, cut it off below the lower girdle and burn it.
Raspberry Beetle (Byturus unicolor).—A light brown beetle one-seventh inch long feeds on the opening leaves and blossoms. The small white grub feeds between the berry and receptacle of red raspberries.
Raspberry Cane Maggot (Phorbia rubivora).—Small, white maggot which burrows in the new canes and girdles the shoot. The eggs are laid by a fly in April or May.
Treatment.—Pull up or cut off canes several inches below the girdle and burn them.
Raspberry Horntail (Hartigia abdominalis).—A whitish larva, about 1 inch in length when mature; when young it burrows under the bark, girdling the tip. It then tunnels out the pith.
Treatment.—-Cut off infested canes when wilting is observed.
Raspberry Root-Borer (Bembecia marginata).—-Larva about 1 inch long, boring in the roots and the lower parts of the cane, remaining in the root over winter.
Remedy.—Dig out the borers. Destroy wild berry bushes.
Raspberry Saw-fly (Monophadnus rubi).—Larva about ¾ inch long, green, feeding upon the leaves.
Remedies.—Hellebore; arsenicals, after fruiting. Red-necked Cane-borer (Agrilus ruficollis).—A yellowish white flattened grub, ¾ inch in length when mature, burrows in the canes causing swellings or galls characterized by the splitting of the bark. The parent beetle is ⅓ inch in length, black, with thorax or "neck” reddish.
Treatment.—Cut out and burn all infested canes.
Red-spider.—See Peach. Do not use lime-sulfur on raspberry foliage.
Tree-cricket (Ecanthus nigricornis). —Small and whitish cricket-like insect, puncturing canes for 2 or 3 inches, and depositing eggs in the punctures.
Remedy.—Burn all infested canes in winter or very early spring.
Brassica.—See Cabbage.
Brussels Sprouts.—See Cabbage.
Buxus. Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Cabbage. Cabbage Aphis (Aphis brassicae).—These small, mealy plant-lice are especially troublesome during cool, dry seasons, when their natural enemies are less active.
Treatment.—Thorough spraying with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, three-fourths of a pint in one hundred gallons water, adding four or five pounds of soap.
Cabbage-Looper (Antographa brassies).—A pale green looping caterpillar, striped with lighter lines, over 1 inch in length when mature. Especially destructive to late cauliflower.
Treatment.—Very difficult to poison. Some growers dust the plants with pure paris green, using a blower.
Cabbage Maggot (Pegomya brassicae).—A small white maggot, the larva of a small fly, eating into the crown and roots of young cabbage, cauliflower, radish, and turnip plants.
Treatment.—Carbolic acid emulsion diluted with thirty parts of water, applied the day following the transplanting of the cabbage plants, and repeated once a week for several applications. Remove a little earth from about the plants, and spray on the emulsion forcibly. Better results may be secured by using tightly fitting cards cut from tarred paper. In seed-beds, protect the plants by surrounding the bed with boards 1 foot wide placed on edge, across which a tight cover of cheese cloth is stretched.
Cabbage-worm or Cabbage-butterfly (Pontia rapae).—The green caterpillars hatch from eggs laid by the common white butterfly. There are several broods every season.
Treatment.—If plants are not heading, spray with kerosene emulsion or with paris green to which the sticker has been added. If heading, apply hellebore. Cutworms.—See Corn.
Diamond-back Moth (Plutella maculipennis).—A pale green, active caterpillar, about ⅓ inch in length when mature, feeds on the under sides of the leaves. Pupates in an open-work silken cocoon on the leaves. Destructive to late cauliflower.
Treatment.—Same as for cabbage looper.
Flea-beetles.—See Potato.
Harlequin Cabbage-bug (Murgantia histrionica).—Bug about Winch long, gaudily colored with orange dots and stripes over a blue-black ground, feeding upon cabbage; two to six broods.
Treatment.—Hand-picking. Place blocks about the patch, and the bugs will collect under them. In the fall make small piles of the rubbish in the patch, and burn them at the approach of winter. Practise clean culture. Destroy all cabbage stalks and other cruciferous plants in fall. Early in the spring, plant a trap crop of mustard, radish, rape, or kale. When the overwintering bugs congregate on these plants, destroy them with pure kerosene or by hand.
Cactus. Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Cactus. Chelinidea vittigera.—A yellowish bug resembling the common squash stink bug (Anasa tristis), feeding on the joints of opuntia, causing small circular discolored areas and destruction of the plants.
Treatment.—Destroy young with gasolene torch. In winter, burn trash in which adults are hibernating.
Cottony Cochineal Insect (Dactylopius confusus).—A scale insect covered with large flocculent masses of pure white wax.
Control.-Usually kept in check by its predaceous enemies.
Melitara junctolinella.—Large indigo-blue (young), or conspicuously banded (last stage) larvae living within the joints of opuntia, causing tumor-like swellings.
Control.—Burn injured joints with gasolene torch.
Mimorista flavidissimalis.—Yellowish caterpillars burrowing in the young joints, thus destroying new growth. Their presence is indicated by exuding sap.
Treatment.—Powdered arsenate of lead dusted on the young growth early in the season.
Narnia pallidicorins.—Brownish yellow bugs about ¾ inch in length injuring the fruit.
Catalogue Of Insects, continued.
Control.—Destroy the gregarious bugs with the gasolene torch.
Opuntia longicorns (Monsilema sp.).—Shining, black, wingless beetles ¾ to 1 inch in length. The larvae burrow in the main stems and older joints of the prickly pear.
Control.—Hand-picking the beetles; burning infested stems; spraying with arsenate of lead.
Carnation. Carnation Mite (Pediculopsis graminum).—A minute mite found in the buds and instrumental in transmitting the bud-rot disease.
Treatment.—Gather and burn all infested buds.
Green Plant-louse (Mysus persicae).—Small greenish plant- lice infesting the terminal branches.
Treatment.—Fumigation with hydrocyanic acid gas or tobacco.
Carrot. Carrot Beetle (Ligyrus gibbosus).—A reddish brown beetle ft inch or more long, which attacks the young plants. The larva lives in the ground, where it feeds on humus.
Preventive.—Crop-rotation and other remedies for white grub. See under Corn.
Carrot Rust Fly.—See Celery.
Parsnip Leap-miner.—See Parsnip.
Parsnip Plant-louse.—See Parsnip.
Parsnip Web-Worm.—See Parsnip.
Carya.—See Hickory.
Castanea.—See Chestnut.
Catalpa. Catalpa-midge (Cecidonyia catalpae).—Small yellowish- maggots, scarcely ⅛ inch in length when mature, attacking the seeds, terminal buds, ends of branches and leaves, deforming them.
Treatment.—Plow in early fall or late spring to destroy pupae in nurseries.
Catalpa Sphinx (Sphinx catalpae).—A sulfur-yellow caterpillar with black head and a broad black stripe down the back, about 2½ inches in length when mature, defoliates the trees. Several broods a season.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead when the caterpillars are small. Hand-picking later.
Cauliflower.—See Cabbage.
Ceanothus. Citrus Mealy-bug.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bug.—See Banana.
Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
Celery. Carrot Rust-fly (Psila rosae).—Minute whitish yellow maggots infesting the roots and stunting the plants.
Preventive.—Late sowing and rotation of crops. Celery or carrots .should not follow each other.
Celery Caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes).—A large green caterpillar, ringed with black and spotted with yellow, which feeds on the leaves.
Treatment.—Hand-picking as soon as observed.
Celery Leaf-tyer (Phlyctaenia ferrugalis).—A greenish caterpillar, feeding on the under side of the leaves.
Treatment.—Spray with arsenicals while the larvae are still young.
Celery Looper (Antographa falcigera).—A greenish looping caterpillar with white stripes, about 1½ inches long when mature; feeds on the tender leaves.
Treatment.—No satisfactory treatment known.
Little Negro Bug (Corimelaena pulcaria).—-Glossy black bugs, ⅕ inch in length, that collect in clusters in the axils of the leaflets and cause the plants to wilt.
Treatment.—Kerosene emulsion or tobacco extract.
Parsnip Plant-louse.—See Parsnip.
Chard.—See Beet.
Cherry. Aphis (Myzus cerasi).—Blackish plant-lice infesting the leaves and tips of new growth.
Treatment.—Spray as soon as the first lice appear with whale-oil soap or tobacco extract.
Canker Worm.—See Apple.
Cherry Fruit Flies (Rhagoletis cingulata and R. fausta).— Small maggots infesting ripening fruit. Adults are flies with banded wings and insert their eggs under the skin of the fruit.
Treatment.—Spray with arsenate of lead, five pounds in one hundred gallons sweetened with three gallons molasses to kill flies before egg-laying. Should be done when flies first appear,—last of June in New York.
Cherry Scale (Aspidiotus forbesi).—Resembles the San Jose scale.
Treatment.—Same as for San Jose Scale. See Apple.
Plum-curculio.—See Plum.
Rose-chafer.—See Grape.
Slug (Eriocampoides limacina).—Larva, ½ inch long, blackish and slimy, feeding upon the leaves; two broods.
Treatment.—Arsenicals, hellebore, tobacco extract.
Cherry Tree Tortrix (Archips cerasivorana).—Tips of branches are frequently webbed into nests by colonies of lemon-yellow caterpillars.
Treatment.—Wipe out nests and destroy the caterpillars.
Peach Tree Borer.—See Peach.
Fruit Tree Bark Beetle.—See Peach.
Chestnut. Chestnut Weevils (Balaninus proboscideus and B. rectus).—Brownish beetles with extremely long, slender snouts with which they bore holes into the nuts for deposition of eggs. The grubs feed on the kernel, producing wormy nuts.
Treatment.—No satisfactory control measures known.
Two-lined Chestnut Borer (Agrilus bilineatus).—Slender. flattened grubs, ¾ inch long when mature, burrowing under the bark and girdling the trees.
Treatment.—-Cut and burn infested trees to prevent spread.
European Fruit Lecanium.—See Plum.
Chrysanthemum. Green Aphis (Aphis rufomaculata).—Small, green lice attacking the terminal shoots.
Treatment. —Fumigation.
Black Aphis (Macrosiphum sanborni).—-Small, black lice attacking the terminal shoots.
Treatment.—Fumigation.
Tarnished Plant-bug.—See Aster.
Chrysanthemum Leaf-miner (Oscinis sp.).—Works in the leaves.
Treatment.—Hand-picking.
Cineraria. Leaf-tyer.—See Celery.
Citrus. Barnacle Scale (Ceroplastes cirripediformis).—A large, dark brown scale covered with a waxy secretion ⅕ inch in length. Surface of scale sculptured like a miniature barnacle.
Control.—Resin wash or kerosene emulsion before the waxy covering is secreted.
Black Citrus Louse (Toxoptera aurantiae).—Small, dull black lice, curling the leaves and killing the new growth. Control.—Contact sprays before the leaves curl.
Black Scale (Saissetia oleae).—A black, oval scale ¼ inch in diameter with an "H "-shaped mark on the back of the female. The young are light yellow to brown, unmarked. The scales secrete honey dew in which a fungus grows smutting the fruit.
Treatment.—Fumigation. On citrus, use a half to three- fourths of regular dosage between September and January. On deciduous fruits and olive, water distillate, caustic soda mechanical mixtures or distillate emulsion may be used to kill scales less than one-half grown.
Citrus Red-spider (Tetranychus mytilaspidis).—Bright red, minute mite, frequently abundant on fruit and foliage.
Treatment.—Dusting with sulphur or commercial lime-sulfur solution diluted 1-35 or 50 of water.
Citrus Thrips (Euthrips citri).-Slender, minute, orange-yellow insects, less than one-thirtieth inch in length, scarring the fruit and injuring the foliage.
Treatment.—Lime-sulfur solution one part in eighty parts water (likely to cause slight injury to foliage) or "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, one part in 1,800 parts water. Make four applications: (1) As the last of petals are falling; (2) ten to fifteen days later; (3) three to four weeks after the second; (4) during the months of August or September (for California). In greenhouses, fumigate with hydrocyanic acid gas.
Cottony Cushion Scale (Icerya purchasi).—Red or yellowish scale insects with large, white, fluted, cottony masses which cover the eggs from ¼ to ½ inch in length.
Control.—Natural enemies, principally by the common Vedalia.
Florida Red Scale (Chrysomphalus aonidum).—Circular flat, brown scales, 1/14 to ⅛ inch in diameter.
Treatment.—Fumigation with full dosage schedule.
Florida Wax Scale (Ceroplastes floridensis).—Oval convex, white or pinkish, waxy scales with the upper surface evenly lobed, 1-12 to H inch in diameter.
Control.—Resin wash or kerosene emulsion applied to the young scales before the waxy covering is formed.
Fuller's Rose Beetle.—See Strawberry.
Glover's Scale (Lepidosaphes gloverii).—Closely resembles the purple scale, but is longer and narrower.
Control.—Same as for Purple Scale, which see.
Greenhouse Thrips (Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis).—A slender, minute, yellowish brown insect destroying the blossoms and russeting the fruit.
Treatment.—Same as for Citrus Thrips, which see.
Hemispherical Scale (Saissetia hemisphaerica).—A smooth, oval, convex soft scale without markings. Common in greenhouses.
Treatment.—Same as for Black Scale, which see.
Mealy - Bug (Pseudococcus citri).—Small, soft-bodied scale insects, ¼ to ⅜ inch long, covered with a white waxy secretion. Control.—A thorough application of carbolic acid emulsion; spray under heavy pressure.
Melon Aphis.—See Muskmelon.
Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Ceratitis capitata).—Small white muggots burrowing in a great variety of soft, juicy fruits. The parent fly is about the size of the house fly, yellowish marked with black, and with faintly banded wings. Widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world and a most serious horticultural pest wherever it occurs. Rigid quarantine regulations have prevented its introduction into the United States.
Treatment.-Sweetened arsenate of lead to kill the flies before oviposition.
Orange Chionaspis (Chionaspis citri).—Elongate, blackish brown scale with a gray margin and dark yellow exuviae.
Treatment.—Fumigation; kerosene emulsion, one part in five parts of water; three applications at three-week intervals.
Orange Maggot (Trypeta ludens).—Dirty white maggots, about H inch in length when mature, burrowing in the pulp. From four to twenty maggots may occur in a single orange. The adult two-winged fly is straw-yellow in color with brownish markings and bands on the wings. A serious pest to oranges in Mexico.
Control.—Pick up and destroy all infested fruit.
Orange Tortrix (Tortrix citrana).—Greenish white to dark, irregularly striped caterpillars, ½ inch long when mature, that burrow into the rind and induce decay.
Control.—Destroy all infested fruit.
Purple scale (Lepidosaphes beckii).—Reddish brown to rich purple oyster-shell -shaped scales 1/15 to ⅛ inch in length.
Control.—Fumigate with full dosage schedule.
Red Scale (Chrysomphalua aurantii).—Circular, flat, reddish scales, 1/15 to ⅛ inch in diameter.
Control.—Fumigation with full dosage schedule. On deciduous trees lime-sulfur solution, one pan in nine parts of water; or distillate emulsion.
Silver Mite (Eriophyes oleivorus).—A minute, elongate four- legged yellow mite causing russeting of the orange and silvering of the lemon.
Control.—Same as for Citrus Red Spider, which see.
Soft Brown Scale (Coccus hesperidum).—Oval, yellowish brown, flat, soft scale, sometimes with darker markings, ¼ inch in length.
Control.—Same as for Black Scale, which see.
White-fly (Aleyrodes citri and A. nubifera).— The immature stages are found on the under side of the leaves and are scale- like in form. The adults are minute white-winged flies.
Treatment.—Fumigation. Fungous parasites.
Yellow Scale (Chrysomphalus citrinus).—Similar to the red scale but yellowish in color.
Control.—Same as for Red Scale, which see.
Clematis. Red Spider.—See Peach.
Soft Brown Scale.—See Citrus.
Coconut. Coconut Scale (Aspidiotus destructor).—Whitish to creamy transparent scales often abundant on under side of leaves and fruit.
Treatment.—When occurring on young trees spray with whale-oil soap; on older trees it is advisable to remove and burn badly infested leaves.
Coconut Beetle (Strategus anachoreta).—Large black beetles attacking young trees near the "collar." One beetle will destroy a tree if not removed in time.
Treatment.—Dig out and destroy.
Coconut White-fly (Aleyrodes cocois).—Similar to the citrus white fly.
Control.—Contact insecticides. Destroy wild food plants.
Florida Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Palm Weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum).—Shining black snout beetles, the larva; of which live in young palm trees reducing the interior tissues to a mass of pulp.
Treatment.—Dress all wounds with tar or similar preparations. Avoid all unnecessary pruning. Destroy all felled trees and stumps not used as traps. The beetles may be attracted by the use of injured palm cabbages and trapped under rubbish.
Rhinoceros Beetle (Oryctes rhinoceros).—A large beetle about 1½ inches long, attacking and burrowing through the crown and stem.
Treatment.—Destroy all breeding-places, such as old coconut trees, stump, and cocao pods.
Cocos.—See Coconut.
Codiaeum. Greenhouse Thrips.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Purple Scale.—See Citrus.
Coffee. Black Citrus Louse.-See Citrus.
Coffee Leaf-miner (Cemiostoma coffeella).—A small caterpillar about ⅛ inch long, mines in the leaves producing small brownish areas. Badly infested leaves drop.
Treatment.—No satisfactory treatment known.
Hemispherical Scale.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bug.—See Citrus.
Coleus. Mealy-bug.—See Citrus.
Orthezia insignis.—Ocherous to dark green scale insect covered with a white waxy secretion extending posteriorly into a broad plate.
Treatment.—Contact insecticides.
White-fly.—See Tomato.
Corn. Army-Worm (Leucania unipuncta).—A cut-worm-like caterpillar, which normally feeds on grass. When this food- supply is exhausted, they migrate in numbers to other fields and attack corn, wheat, and similar crops.
Preventive.—To stop the advance of the "army," plow deep furrows so the dirt is thrown toward the colony; in the bottom of the furrows dig post-holes into which the caterpillars will fall and where they may be killed with kerosene.
Chinch-bug (Blissus leucopterus).—A red or white and black sucking bug, three-twentieths of an inch long. Attacks wheat and corn in great numbers.
Preventives.—Clean farming to destroy suitable hibernating shelter. Stop the migration of the bugs from the wheat-fields into corn by maintaining along the field a dust strip 10 feet wide in which a furrow and post-hole barrier has been constructed. This may be supplemented by a coal-tar barrier.
Angoumois Grain Moth (Sitotroga cerealella).—A small caterpillar living in the grains. The adult is a small grayish brown moth. Most destructive in storage.
Treatment.—Fumigate with carbon bisulfid, five pounds to 1,000 cubic feet. Make bins perfectly tight and sprinkle over grain, covering with gas-proof tarpaulin. Fumigate at least twenty-four hours. This should be done when temperature is not below 65° F. In steam-heated mills, the most practicable method of destroying groin-in (outing insects is by holding temperature from 118° to 122° for several hours.
Corn Ear-Worm (Heliothis armiger).—A green or brownish striped caterpillar feeding on the corn beneath the husk. Three to six generations yearly.
Preventives.—Plant as early as possible, and still avoid a "set-back" to the crop.
Corn-root Aphis (Aphis maidiradicis),—A bluish green aphis infesting the roots.
Preventives.—A short rotation period in corn, especially in dry years. Deep and thorough and repeated stirring of old corn ground in fall and spring as a preparation for corn-planting. Maintenance and increase of the fertility of the soil.
Cutworms (Agrotis. Hadena, etc.).—Soft-bodied caterpillars eating and cutting off the young plants.
Preventives.—Early fall plowing of grass lands intended for corn; pasturing by pigs of grass or clover land intended for corn; distributing a line of poisoned bran by means of a seed- drill. To prevent the caterpillars entering from a neighboring grass field, destroy them with a line of poisoned vegetable bait.
Grasshoppers (Acrididae).—Poison them with the following mixture: Bran, twenty pounds; paris green, one pound; syrup, two quarts; oranges or lemons, three fruits; water, three and one-half gallons. Mix the bran and paris green thoroughly in a wash-tub while dry. Squeeze the juice of oranges or lemons into the water and add pulp and peel cut into small pieces. Dissolve the syrup in the water and moisten the bran mixture with it, mixing thoroughly. Sow broadcast in infested areas early in the morning.
Northern Corn Root-Worm (Diabrotica longicornis).—A whitish grub ⅖ inch long, which burrows in the roots.
Preventive.—Crop-rotation; corn should not follow corn.
Sod Web-Worms (Crambus sp.).-Gray or brownish caterpillars about ½ inch long, living in silk-lined burrows in the soil at base of plant. They thrive in grass land.
Preventive.—Early fall plowing of grass land intended for corn, or else plow as late as possible the next spring.
White Grubs (Lachnosterna sp.).—The large white curved larvae of the common June beetle.
Preventives.—Rotation of crops; do not let corn follow sod. but let a crop of clover or clover and oats intervene. To help clear sod land of grubs, pasture to hogs any time between April and October. To prevent laying of eggs in corn-field, keep the ground free from weeds during May and June. Thorough cultivation and heavy fertilization.
Wire-worms (Elateridae).—Hard, yellowish, or reddish, cylindrical larvae feeding on the roots.
Preventives.—Crop-rotation; let clover intervene between sod and corn, planting the corn late the second or third year. Early fall plowing.
Cornus. Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
San Jose Scale.—See Apple.
Corylus. Hazelnut Weevil (Balaninus obtusus).—Small whitish grubs living in the kernels. The adult is a yellowish brown beetle with a long, slender snout.
Control.—No efficient treatment known.
Cosmos. Root Aphis (Aphis middletoni).—Small bluish lice on the roots.
Treatment,—Tobacco dust mixed in the soil.
Cotoneaster. Pear Leap-buster Mite.—See Pear. Cranberry. Cranberry Fulgorid (Phylloscelis atra).—Small, broad-bodied, black jumping insect punctures the vines, causing the leaves to turn brown and the fruit to shrivel.
Treatment.—"Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, one pint to one hundred gallons of water, adding four to five pounds soap to kill young nymphs.
Cranberry-girdler (Crambus hortuellus).—Small caterpillars, feeding on the sterna just beneath the surface of the sand.
Preventive.—Reflow just after picking, for a week or ten days, or reflow for a day or two about June 10.
False Army-Worm (Calocampa nupera).—Green to blackish caterpillars devouring the leaves and buds.
Treatment.—Reflow for from twenty-four to thirty-six hours soon after the middle of May. It may be necessary to reflow a second time. Destroy all caterpillars washed ashore while the water is on. In dry bogs, spray early in May with arsenate of lead.
Fire-Worm, Cranberry Worm, or Black-headed Cranberry Worm (Eudemis vacciniana).—Small larva, green, black- headed, feeding upon the shoots and young leaves, drawing them together by silken threads; two broods.
Treatment.—Flooding for two or three days when the worms come down to pupate. Arsenicals.
Fruit-Worm (Mineola vaccinii).—Small caterpillar working in the fruits, eating out the insides.
Preventives.—For bogs with abundant water, reflow for ten days immediately after picking. Let the foliage ripen, and then turn on water for winter. Draw off water early in April, and every third or fourth year hold it on until the middle of May. For dry bogs spray three times with arsenate of lead during July. Bury all screenings.
Yellow-headed Cranberry-Worm (Acleris minuta).—Stout, yellowish green, small caterpillar, with a yellow head, webbing up the leaves as it works.
Treatment.—Hold the water late on the bog in spring to prevent egg-laying. Arsenicals from the middle of May till July 1.
Crataegus. Plant-lice.—See Apple.
Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
Red-humped Caterpillar.—See Apple.
San Jose Scale.—See Apple.
Scurfy Scale.—See Apple.
Woolly Aphis.—See Apple.
Cucumber. Flea-beetles.—See Potato.
Melon-worm.—See Muskmelon.
Pickle-Worm (Diaphania nitidalis).—Larva, about an inch long, yellowish white, tinged with green, boring into cucumbers; two broods.
Preventives.—Clean fanning, fall plowing, and rotation of crops.
Remedies.—Kill the caterpillars be/ore they enter the fruit by spraying with arsenate of lead about the time the buds begin to form, and repeat in two weeks.
Red-spider.—See Peach.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica 12-punctata).—Beetle, yellowish and black spotted, about ¼ inch long, feeding upon the leaves and fruit. Sometimes attacks fruit trees, and the larva may injure roots of corn.
Treatment.—Same as for Striped Cucumber Beetle, which see.
Stem-borer.—See Squash.
Striped Cucumber Beetle (Diabrotica vittata),—Beetle, ¼ inch long, yellow with black stripes,
feeding on leaves. Larva ⅓ inch long and sixe of a pin, feeding on roots; two broods.
Preventive.—Cheap boxes covered with thin muslin or screens of mosquito netting, placed over young plants.
Remedies.—Arsenicals in flour; arsenate of lead; ashes, lime, plaster, or fine road dust sprinkled on the plants every two or three days when they are wet; air-slaked lime; plaster and kerosene; tobacco powder, applied liberally. Apply remedies when dew is on, and see that it strikes the under side of the leaves.
White-fly.—See Tomato.
Cucurbita.—See Squash.
Currant. Borer (Sesia tipuliformis).—A whitish larva, boring in the canes of currants, and sometimes of gooseberries. The larva remains in the cane over winter.
Treatment.—In fall and early spring cut and burn all affected canes. These canes may be distinguished by a lack of vigor and by limberness.
Currant Aphis (Myzus ribis).—Small yellowish green lice attacking the under side of the leaves, distorting the leaves and causing them to turn red.
Treatment.—Contact insecticides when leaves first appear.
Currant Measuring- or Span-worm (Cymatophora ribearia).— Larva somewhat over an inch long, with stripes and dotted with yellow or black, feeding upon the leaves.
Treatment.—Hellebore, applied stronger than for currant- worm. Arsenicals; hand-picking.
Currant-Worm, or Currant and Gooseberry Saw-fly (Pteronus ribesii).—Larva, about ¾ inch long, yellowish green, feeding on leaves of red and white varieties; two to lour broods.
Treatment.—Hellebore, applied early; arsenicals for the early brood. Treatment should begin while the larvae are on the lowermost leaves of the bushes. Before the leaves are fully grown, the holes made by the worms may be seen. The second brood is best destroyed by killing the first brood.
Four-striped Plant-bug (Poecilocapsus lineatus).—A bright yellow, black-striped bug about H inch long, puncturing the young leaves and shoots of many plants.
Treatment.—Jarring into a dish of kerosene. Kerosene emulsion when the nymphs are young. Cut off the tips of the shoots in early spring to destroy the eggs.
Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
San Jose Scale.—See Apple.
Cycas. Hemispherical Scale.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bug.—See Citrus.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Soft Brown Scale.—See Citrus.
White Peach Scale.—See Peach.
Dahlia. Greenhouse Thrips.—See Citrus.
Tarnished Plant-bug.—See Aster.
Date. Date Palm Scale (Parlatoria blanchardii).—Small elongate gray or black scales with white edges. Male scales are white. Treatment.—Crop close, burn over trunks, after saturating with gasolene and use blast torch.
Marlatt Scale (Phoenicococcus marlatti),—A soft-bodied, oval, wine-red insect, one twenty-fifth inch in length, partially covered with white wax, found in large colonies at base of leaves.
Treatment.—Carbolic acid emulsion poured in large quantities at base of leaves.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Rhinoceros Beetle.—See Coconut.
Dewberry.—See Bramble Fruits.
Diospyros. White Fly.—See Citrus.
White Peach Scale.—See Peach.
Dracaena. Long-tailed Mealy-bug (Pseudococcus longispinus). —Similar to the common mealy-bug, but has two long white anal appendages.
Treatment.—Same as for mealy-bug.
Echinocactus.—See Cactus.
Echinocereus.—See Cactus.
Echinopsis. See Cactus.
Eggplant.—See article on Eggplant.
Elm.—See Ulmus.
Eucalyptus. Black Scale.—See Citrus.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Eupatorium. Barnacle Scale.—See Citrus.
Evonymous. Evonymous Scale (Chionaspis evonymi).—Dark brown, convex scales, about one-twelfth inch m diameter with yellow exuviae. Male scales pure white parallel aides and strongly tricarinated.
Treatment.—Spray with kerosene emulsion every two weeks during the hatching periods until the scale has disappeared.
Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Ferns. Florida Wax Scale.—See Citrus.
Greenhouse Thrips.—See Citrus.
Hemispherical Scale.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Southern Fern-cutworm (Callopistria floridensis).—Velvety black or apple-green caterpillars, 1⅖ inches in length when mature, feeding on the fronds.
Treatment.—Try poisoned baits.
Ficus. Cottony Cushion Scale; Greenhouse Thrips; Mealy-Bug; Purple Scale; Red Scale; Soft Brown Scale.—See Citrus.
Fuchsia. Greenhouse Thrips.—See Citrus.
Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Red-spider.—See Peach.
White Fly.—See Tomato.
Gardenia. Citrus White Fly.—See Citrus.
Japanese Wax Scale (Ceroplastes ceriftrus).—White to creamy waxy masses, ¼ to ¾ inch in diameter.
Control.—Young scales may be killed with kerosene emulsion before the waxy covering is formed.
Orthezia.—See Coleus.
Genista. Genista Caterpillar (Mecyna reversalis).—Pale yellowish brown caterpillars marked with numerous black spots and setae, feeding on the foliage.
Treatment.—Arsenicals. Geranium. Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Red-spider.—See Peach.
White-fly.—See Tomato.
Gooseberry. Currant-borer; Currant Measuring- or Span- Worm; Four-striped Plant-boo; Gooseberry- or
Currant- Worm.—See Currant.
Gooseberry Fruit-worm (Dakruma convolutella).—Larva about ¾ inch long, greenish or yellowish, feeding in the berry, causing it to ripen prematurely.
Treatment.— Destroy affected berries. Clean cultivation. Poultry.
Grape. Grape-curculio (Craponius inaequalis).—Larva small, white, with a brownish head. Infests the grape in June and July, causing a little black hole in the skin and a discoloration of the berry immediately around it. The adult is a grayish brown snout-beetle, about one-tenth inch long.
Treatment.—Spray with arsenate of lead while the beetles are feeding on the leaves. The beetles may be jarred down on sheets, as with the plum-curculio. Bag the clusters.
Grape Root-Worm (Fidia viticida).—The small white grubs feed upon the roots, often killing the vines in a few years. The adults are small grayish brown beetles that eat peculiar chain-like holes in the leaves during July and August.
Treatment.—Cultivate thoroughly in June, especially close around the vines to kill the pupae in the soil. At the first appearance of the beetles, spray the plants with arsenate of lead at the rate of eight or ten pounds in one hundred gallons of water, to which should be added one gallon of molasses.
Grape-slug or Saw-fly (Selandria vitis).—Larva, about ½ inch long, yellowish green with black points, feeding upon the leaves; two broods.
Remedies.—Arsenicals; hellebore.
Grapeberry-Worm (Polychrosis viteana).—Larva, about ¼ inch long, feeding on the berry, often securing three or four together by a web; two broods.
Remedy.—Spray with arsenate of lead before blossoms open. Repeat after blooming and again in early July. Destroy wormy berries in August. Grasshoppers.—See Corn.
Grape-vine Flea-beetle (Graptodera chalybea).—Beetle, of a blue metallic color, about ¼ inch long, feeding upon the buds and tender shoots in early spring.
Treatment.—Arsenicals to kill the grubs on leaves during May and June. The beetle can be caught by jarring on bright days.
Grape-vine Root-Borer (Memythrus polistiformis).—Larva 1½ inches or less long, working in the roots.
Preventive.—Thorough cultivation during June and July.
Treatment.—Dig out the borers.
Grape-vine Sphinx (Ampelophaga myron}.—A large larva, 2 inches long when mature, green with yellow spots and stripes, bearing a horn at the posterior extremity, feeding upon the leaves, and nipping off the young clusters of grapes; two broods.
Treatment—Hand-picking. Arsenicals early in the season. There are other large sphinx caterpillars which feed upon the foliage of the vine and which are readily kept in check by hand- picking and spraying.
Leaf-hopper (Typhlocyba comes).—These small yellowish leaf- hoppers, erroneously called "thrips," suck the sap from the under side of the leaves, causing them to turn brown and dry up.
Treatment.—Spray the under side of the leaves very thoroughly with one gallon "Black Leaf 40" in 1,000 gallons of water about July 1, to kill the young leaf-hoppers. When using tobacco extract, add about two pounds soap to each fifty gallons to make it spread and stick better. Repeat the application in a week or ten days. In houses, tobacco smoke, pyrethrum poured upon coals held under the vines, syringing with tobacco-water or soapsuds.
Phylloxera (Phylloxera vastatrix).—A minute insect preying upon the roots, and in one form causing galls upon the leaves.
Preventive.—As a rule, this insect is not destructive to American species of vines. Grafting upon resistant stocks is the most reliable method of dealing with the insect yet known. This precaution is taken to a large extent in European countries and in California, as the European vine is particularly subject to attack.
Remedies.—There is no reliable and widely practicable remedy known.
Rose-chafer (Macrodactylus subspinosus).—The ungainly, long-legged grayish beetles occur in sandy regions, and often swarm into vineyards and destroy the blossoms and foliage.
Treatment.—At the first appearance of the beetles, spray with arsenate of lead at the rate of eight or ten pounds in one hundred gallons of water, to which should be added one gallon of molasses.
Tree Cricket.—See Bramble Fruits.
Grapefruit.—See Citrus.
Guava. Black Scale.—See Citrus.
Guava Mealy-bug (Pseudococcus nipae).—Closely resembles the ordinary mealy-bug.
Treatment.—Carbolic acid emulsion.
Hemispherical Scale.—See Citrus.
Mediterranean Fruit Fly.—See Citrus.
Hedera. Black Scale; Florida Red Scale; Hemispherical Scale; Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Oleander Aphis (Aphis nerii).—Deep yellowish plant-lice, marked with black, cluster on the young shoots and buds.
Treatment.—-Contact insecticides.
Oleander Scale (Aspidiotus hederae).—Flat, circular, gray scales, ⅛ inch in diameter.
Treatment.—Same as for San Jose Scale (apple), which see.
Soft Brown Scale.—See Citrus.
Helianthus. Stem Maggot.—See Artichoke.
Heliotropium. Red-spider.—See Peach.
Hibiscus. Melon Aphis.—See Muskmelon.
Hickory. Gall Aphis (Phylloxera sp.).—Yellowish green plant- lice causing hollow gulls on the leaves, petioles and small twigs.
Treatment.—Spray with contact insecticides just as the buds are opening.
Hickory Bark Beetle (Eccoptogaster quadrispinosa).—Small brown beetle burrowing into twigs, buds and green nuts in June and July. Early in August the females penetrate the bark of living trees forming longitudinal burrows along the sides of which eggs are deposited. The grubs burrow transversely in the sap-wood, soon killing the trees.
Treatment.—Cut and burn all infested trees before May of each year.
Nut Weevil.—See Pecan.
Twig-Girdler.—See Apple.
Hollyhock. Hollyhock Bug (Orthotylus delicatus).—A small green bug attacking the hollyhock with much damage.
Treatment.—Kerosene emulsion; tobacco extracts.
Melon Aphis.—See Muskmelon.
Horse-Radish. Cabbage-Worm.—See Cabbage.
Flea Beetles.—See Potato.
Harlequin Cabbage-bug.—See Cabbage.
Ipomoea. Soft Brown Scale.—See Citrus.
Iris. White-fly.—See Citrus.
Jasminum. Citrus White-fly.-—See Citrus.
Soft Brown Scale.—See Citrus.
Juglans.—See Hickory.
Juniper. Bagworm (Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis).—Small caterpillars in curious bag-like shelters
defoliating the trees in early summer.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead, two pounds to one hundred gallons of water.
Juniper Scale (Diaspis carueli).—Snow-white, circular scales with yellow central exuviae.
Treatment.—Nothing known.
Juniper Web-worm (Phalonia rutilana).—Small flesh-colored caterpillar that webs the leaves together.
Treatment,—Arsenicals.
Kale.—See Cabbage.
Kohlrabi.—See Cabbage.
Kumquat.—Sec Citrus.
Lantana. Greenhouse White-fly.—See Tomato.
Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Orthezia.—See Coleus.
Larix. Case-bearer (Coleophora laricella).—A small reddish brown caterpillar mining the leaves when young. In September it constructs a case and feeds on the surrounding leaves for a time, migrates to the branches and there hibernates.
Treatment.—Spray with lime-sulfur before the buds open to destroy the hibernating caterpillars.
Larch Saw-fly (Lygaeonematus erichsonii).—Grayish green larvae with black heads feeding on the foliage.
Treatment.—Spray with arsenicals.
Laurus. Black Scale.—See Citrus.
Fronted Scale.—See Apricot.
Soft Brown Scale, and Thrips.—See Citrus.
White Peach Scale.—See Peach.
Lemon.—See Citrus.
Lespedeza. Smoky Crane-fly (Tipula infuscata).—Dirty yellowish maggots, ⅘ inch long, feeding on the
roots, often in great abundance.
Treatment.—Short crop-rotation.
Lettuce. Aphis, or Green-fly (Macrosiphum lactusae).—A plant- louse on forced lettuce.
Preventive.—Tobacco-dust applied on the soil and plants as soon as the aphis makes its appearance, or even before. Renew every two or three weeks if necessary. Fumigating with tobacco is the surest remedy.
Cabbage.-looper (Autographa brassiae).—Larva somewhat over an inch long, pale green, with stripes of a lighter color, feeding on leaves of many plants, as cabbage, celery and endive.
Remedies.—Pyrethrum diluted with not more than three times its bulk with flour; kerosene emulsion; hot water. Greenhouse White-fly.—See Tomato.
Root-Louse (Rhizobius lactucae).—Small dull-whitish lice, about one-tenth inch in length, feeding on the roots.
Treatment.—Crop-rotation and tobacco dust placed in the soil about the plants.
Liriodendron. Tulip Tree Scale (Toumeyella liriodendri).— Large, nearly hemispherical scales clustered in masses on the under side of branches.
Treatment.—Scrape badly infested branches. Spray with kerosene emulsion or soap solution.
Lupine. Lupine Aphid (Macrosiphum albifrons).—Large, green lice covered with fine white powder, infesting the plants.
Treatment.—Contact insecticides.
Lycopersicum.—See Tomato.
Magnolia. Black Scale; Citrus White Fly; Glovers' Scale. —See Citrus.
Magnolia Scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum).—Large, convex scales, pinkish in color, and covered with
fine powdered wax.
Treatment.—Kerosene emulsion or tobacco extract to kill the young scales.
Maclura. Treated under Toxylon.
Mangifera. Citrus Mealy-bug .—See Citrus.
Fruit Fly (Anastrepha acidusa).—Small yellowish maggots infesting the ripening fruit.
Treatment.—Try sweetened arsenate of lead to kill the flies.
Greenhouse White-fly.—See Citrus.
Mango Weevil (Cryptorhynchus manyiferae).— Brown weevils about ¼ inch long, the grubs living within the seeds.
Treatment.—Gather and destroy all fallen fruit.
Mimulus. Ceroputo yuccae.—Closely resembles the common mealy-bug.
Treatment.—As for mealy-bugs.
Monstera. Scale (Hemichionaspis aspidistra).—Brownish, oyster- shell-shaped scales, attacking the foliage.
Treatment.—Wash the leaves with soapsuds and tobacco extract.
Mushroom. Maggots (Sciara sp.).—Small whitish or yellowish white maggots with black heads.
Treatment.—Exclude flies from house or cellar with fine screens. Sterilize manure by heating to 150° F. Fumigate with tobacco.
Mushroom Mite (Tyroglyphus lintneri).—A minute mite preventing growth of spawn by eating the mycelium.
Control.—In infested houses remove all compost and disinfect by drenching cellar with boiling water. Use sterilized manure.
Springtails (Achoreutes sp.).—Small black or brown jumping insects which sometimes swarm in on the beds.
Treatment.—Fumigate with potassium cyanide, three to six ounces to each 1,000 cubic foot of air-space. Sterilize all manure with heat before using.
Sowbugs (Armadillidium sp. and Porcellio sp.).—Oval, grayish or slate-colored creatures bearing seven pairs of legs; frequently injure mushrooms. These are commonly known as sowbugs and pill bugs.
Treatment.—Mix one quart of cornmeal with sufficient brown sugar to sweeten, then add two tablespoonfuls of paris green. Moisten with water and scatter in places frequented by these sowbugs.
Muskmelon. Melon Aphis (Aphis gossypii).—Small, dark green, sluggish lice found abundantly on melon vines, causing curling of the leaves and death of the plant.
Treatment.—Fumigate with tobacco preparations under cloth-covered frames placed over the plants. Cloth should be treated with linseed oil before using, to make gas-proof. la large fields, spray with "Block Leaf 40" tobacco extract, three-fourths pint to one hundred gallons of water, adding four pounds of soap.
Melon Caterpillar (Diaphania hyalinata).—Pale, greenish yellow caterpillar about ⅘ inch in length when mature, feeding on the foliage early in the season; later boring in the fruits.
Treatment.—Use arsenicals early in the season.
Pickle-Worm.—See Cucumber.
Stem-borer.—See Squash.
Narcissus. Green Aphis,—Tobacco extract, soap solution or fumigation.
Narcissus Bulb Fly (Merodon equestris).—Grayish maggots, ½ to ¾ inch in length when mature, feeding in the bulb. The adult is a large hairy fly.
Control.—Examine bulbs and discard infested ones, burning them. If bulbs are placed in water for from two to eight days the maggots will usually leave them.
Nasturtium. Aphis. A dark-colored plant-louse.
Treatment.—Spray the plants with tobacco extract or soap solution.
Nectarine.—See Peach.
Nelumbo. Plant-lice.—Use tobacco preparations for controlling these pests.
Nepenthes. Mealy-bum.—See Citrus.
Nerium. Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Oak. Brown-tail Moth.—See Apple.
Gipsy Moth.—See Apple.
Pit-making Oak-scale .(Asterolecanium variolosum),—Circular greenish yellow scales with a glassy appearance. Especially destructive to golden oak.
Treatment.—-Kerosene emulsion or soap solution.
Tent Caterpillars; Tussock Moth; Twig-pruner.—See Apple.
Okra. Melon Aphis.—See Muskmelon.
Olive. Black Scale.—See Citrus.
Black Citrus Louse.—See Citrus.
Chrysomphalits rossi. —Circular or oblong, reddish to dark brown scale with a central black spot.
Treatment.—Same as for Red Scale.—See Citrus.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
Pineapple Scale.—See Pineapple.
Purple Scale; Red Scale; Thrips.—See Citrus.
Onion. Black Onion Fly (Tritoxa flexa).—Whitish maggots attacking the bulbs of onions.
Treatment.—Some as for cabbage maggot.
Onion Maggot (Phorbia cepetorum).—Small maggot feeding on the bulb and roots; several generations.
Treatment.—Use lime, tobacco dust or hellebore as repellents to prevent oviposition. Some of the maggots may be killed by applying carbolic acid emulsion or hellebore decoction to the nil about the plants. Cutworms.—See Corn.
Onion Thrips (Thrips tabaci).—Minute, elongate, pale yellow insects attack the leaves, causing them to wilt.
Treatment.—Tobacco sprays. Spray with paris green one pound in one hundred gallons water sweetened with twenty pounds brown sugar when thrips first appear.
Orange.—See Citrus.
Orchids. Hemispherical Scale.—See Citrus.
Orchids Isosoma (Isosoma orchidearum).—Small, white larva infesting the buds causing them to become unduly enlarged.
Treatment.—Cut off and destroy infested buds.
Scale Insects.—Several species.
Treatment.—Wash plants with nicotine solutions and soapsuds.
Papaver. Plant-louse (Aphis rumicis).—Shining black plant- louse that clusters on leaves and stems.
Treatment.—Contact insecticides.
Parsnip. Parsley-worm (Papilio asterias).—Larva, 1½ inches long, light yellow or greenish yellow with lines and spots; feeds upon leaves of parsley, celery, carrot, and related plants. When the worm is disturbed it ejects from the anterior end two yellow horns, with an offensive odor.
Remedies.—Hand-picking. Poultry are said to eat them sometimes. Upon parsnips, arsenicals.
Parsnip-louse (Hyadaphis pastinacae).—Greenish plant-lice.
Treatment.—Contact insecticides.
Parsnip Web-Worm (Depressaria heracliana).—Larva, about V£ inch long, feeding in the flower-cluster and causing it to become contorted.
Treatment.—Arsenicals, applied as noon as the young worms appear, and before the cluster becomes distorted. Burn the distorted umbels. Destroy all wild carrots.
Parsnip Leap-miner (Acidia fratria).—Small, whitish maggots mining the leaves.
Treatment.-—Hand-pick infested leaves.
Passiflora. Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Pea. Cut-Worms.—See Corn.
Pea-weevil, or Pea-bug (Bruchus pisi).—A small brown-black beetle, living in peas over winter. The beetle escapes in fall and spring, and lays its eggs in young pea-pods, and the grubs live in the growing peas.
Treatment.—Hold over infested seed one year before planting. Late planting in some localities. Fumigation with carbon bisulfid.
Pea Aphis (Macrosiphum pisi).—A rather large green plant- louse, often attacking peas in great numbers and causing enormous losses.
Treatment.—Rotation of crops, early planting. When peas are grown in rows, the brush-and-cultivator method may be used. The plant-lice are brushed from the plants with pine boughs, and a cultivator follows stirring the soil. This operation should be performed while the sun is hot and the ground dry. Most of the lice will be killed before they can crawl back to the plants. Repeat every three to seven days.
Peach. Black Aphis (Aphis persicae-niger).—A small black or brown plant-louse, which attacks the tops and roots of peach trees. When upon the roots it is a very serious enemy, stunting the tree and perhaps killing it. Thrives in sandy lands.
Treatment. Kerosene emulsion; tobacco decoction and extracts.
Clover Mite (Bryobia pratensis). —Small reddish mites attacking the leaves, causing them to turn yellow.
Treatment.—Lime-sulfur while trees are dormant. In summer, use self-boiled lime-sulfur, as a dust, or sulfur paste.
Flat-headed Borer.—See Apple.
Fruit Tree Black Beetle (Scolytus rugulosus).—A small beetle similar to the peach tree bark-beetle.
Treatment.—Same as for Peach Tree Bark-Beetle, which see. Katydid.—This insect is often troublesome to the peach in the southern states in the early spring, eating the leaves and girdling young stems.
Remedy.—Poisoned baits placed about the tree.
Green Peach-louse or Aphis (Myzus persicae).—A small insect feeding upon the young leaves, causing them to curl and die.
Treatment.—Lime-sulfur, kerosene emulsion, or tobacco extract. After the buds open, either of the last two.
Peach Tree Bark-beetle (Phloetribus liminaris).—A dark brown beetle one-tenth inch in length burrowing under the bark.
Treatment,—Burn all brush and worthless trees as soon as the infestation is observed. Keep the trees in healthy condition by thorough cultivation and the use of fertilizers. Apply a thick whitewash to the trunk and branches three times a season: (1) the last week of March, (2) second week in July, (3) first week in October.
Peach Tree-borer (Sanninoidea exitiosa).—A whitish larva, about ¾ inch long when mature, boring into the crown and upper roots of the peach, causing gum to exude.
Remedies.—Dig out the borers in June and mound up the trees. At the same time apply gas-tar or coal-tar to the trunk from the roots up to a foot or more above the surface of the ground.
Peach Twig-Moth (Anarsia lineatella).—The larva of a moth, ¼ inch long, boring in the ends of the shoots, and later in the season attacking the fruit. Several broods.
Remedy.—Spray with lime-sulfur just after the buds swell. Spray trunks and larger branches in lat« spring to kill first brood pupae in the curls of bark.
Plum-curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar).—This insect may be successfully controlled on peach by spraying with arsenate of lead, four pounds to one hundred gallons of self-boiled lime- sulfur. Spray, first, when the "husks" drop from the fruit; second, ten days or two weeks later. It is unsafe to spray peaches more than twice with arsenate of lead.
Red-spider, or Mite (Tetranychus bimaculatus),—A small mite infesting many plants, both in the greenhouse and out-of- doors. It flourishes in dry atmospheres, occurring on the under sides of the leaves. In some forms it is reddish, but usually light-colored and two-spotted. Common.
Remedies.—Persistent syringing with water will generally destroy them, if the spray is applied to the under surface. Use lots of force and little water to avoid drenching the beds. Sulfur and water. Dry sulfur. On orchard trees, flour paste.
Round-headed Apple Tree Borer.—See Apple.
White Peach Scale (Diaspis pentagona).—Circular gray scales with the exuviae, at one side of the center.
Remedy.—Same as for San Jose Scale. See Apple.
Pear. Apple Tree-borer; Bud-moth; Codlin-moth; Flat- Headed Borer.—See Apple.
Midge (Diplosis pyrivora).—A minute mosquito-like fly; lays eggs in flower-buds when they begin to snow white. These hatch into minute grubs which distort and discolor the fruit. New York and eastward. Prefers the Lawrence. Introduced in 1877 from France. Remedies—Destroy the infested pears. Cultivate and plow in late summer and fall to destroy the pupae then in the ground.
Pear-leap Blister-mite (Eriophyes pyri).—A minute mite which causes black blisters to appear upon the leaves. The mites collect under the bud-scales in winter.
Remedy.—Lime-sulfur or miscible oil as a dormant spray.
Pear Psylla (Psylla pyricola).—These minute, yellowish, flat- bodied, sucking insects are often found working in the axils of the leaves and fruit early in the season. They develop into minute, cicada-like j urn ping-lice. The young psyllas secrete a large quantity of honey-dew, in which a peculiar black fungus grows, giving the baric a characteristic sooty appearance. There may be four broods annually, and the trees are often seriously injured.
Treatment.—Clean culture; remove rough bark from trunks and larger branches to discourage adults from hibernating; spray with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, one pint in one hundred gallons of water, adding four pounds soap, on warm days in November or April to lull hibernating adults. Spray with lime-sulfur, winter strength, when the blossom clusters appear, to destroy eggs.
Summer treatment.—Spray with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract just as the last of the petals are falling to kill young. Repeat if necessary.
Pear Thrips (Euthrips pyri).— Minute insects one-twentieth inch in length, dark brown when adult, white with rod eyes when young, that attack the opening buds and young fruits in early spring. They suck the sap from the tender growth, and the females lay eggs in the fruit-stems, causing a loss of the crop. The nymphs hibernate in the ground a few inches from the surface. A serious pest in California and recently introduced into New York.
Treatment.—Thorough cultivation during October, November, and December (in California). Make two applications of "Black Leaf" tobacco extract, one gallon in sixty gallons of 2 per cent distillate oil emulsion, the first just as the fruit- buds begin to open, the second just after the petals fall. In the East it may be controlled by timely applications of tobacco extract and whale-oil soap.
Pear-twig Beetle (Xyleborus pyri).—Brownish or black beetle, one-tenth inch long, boring m twigs, producing effect much like pear blight, and hence often known as "pear-blight beetle." It escapes from a minute perforation at base of bud; probably two broods.
Treatment.—Burn twigs before the beetle escapes.
Pecan. Bud-moth (Proteopteryx deludana).—A brownish caterpillar about ½ inch in length, feeding on the opening buds in curly spring and on the under side of the leaves in summer.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead in summer to kill larvae of second brood. Lime-sulfur and arsenate of lead in dormant season just before buds open, to destroy hibernating larvae.
Case-bearer (Acrobasis nebulella).—A small caterpillar living inside a case which it carries with it. It attacks the opening buds.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead as soon as the buds begin to open. Repeat if necessary.
Borer (Sesia scitula).—A wood-boring caterpillar working in the sap-wood.
Treatment.—Digging out.
Pecan Weevil (Balaninus caryae).—A dull, dark brown beetle with a long and slender snout with which it punctures the husk and shell of the maturing nuts for imposition. The grubs live within the nut feeding on the kernel.
Treatment.—Destroy all infested nuts. This should be as soon as they full.
Rose-chafer.—See Grape.
Round-headed Borer.—See Apple.
Slug.—See Cherry.
Twig Girdler (Oncideres cingulatus).—A brownish gray beetle, about ½ inch long, which girdles twigs in August and September. The female lays eggs above the girdle. The twigs soon fall.
Remedy.—Burn the twigs, either cutting them off or gathering them when they fall.
Twig-pruner.—See Apple.
Persimmon. Twig-girdlers.—See Pecan.
White Peach-scale (Diaspis pentagona).
Remedy.—Lime-sulfur when the trees are thoroughly dormant.
Picea. Spruce Bud-worm (Tortrix fumiferana).—Small caterpillar feeding on the young foliage, causing the tips of the twigs to turn reddish, due to the dying of the foliage. Frequently serious in forests.
Spruce Gall Aphis (Chermes abietis).—Plant-lice causing cone- shaped, many-celled galls at the bases of young shoots.
Treatment.—Spray with whale-oil soap, one pound in two gallons of water, in early spring. Cut off all galls and burn before the lice leave them.
Pine. Pine Leaf-scale (Chionaspis pinifoliae).—Small white scales frequently abundant on the foliage.
Treatment.—Kerosene emulsion or tobacco extracts when the young are hatching.
Pine Weevil (Pissodes atrobi).—Small grub working in the terminal branch, which is killed, causing distorted trees.
Treatment.—Cut out and burn infested branches.
Pineapple. Katydid (Acanthacara similis}.—A large katydid which attacks, among other plants, the leaves of the pineapple.
Remedy.—Arsenicals, before the plants are mature.
Mealy-bugs (several species).— These mealy white insects attack the plant at the base of the leaves, usually underground.
Treatment.—Set only clean plants, or dip them in resin wash or kerosene emulsion. In the field apply tobacco dust freely in the bud before the bloom begins to appear, or spray with kerosene emulsion.
Pineapple Scale (Diaspis bromeliae).—Circular, thin, pure white scales with yellow exuviae infesting leaves and fruit.
Treatment.—Kerosene emulsion and resin wash.
Red-spider (Stigmaeus floridanus).—Minute mites occurring in great number at the base of the leaf, where they induce rot.
Treatment.—Tobacco dust applied to bud.
Plum. Canker-worm.—See Apple.
Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar).—Larva, a whitish grub, feeding in the fruit.
Remedies.—Arsenate of lead, six pounds to one hundred gallons of water; apply as soon as the calyx falls, and repeat two or three times at intervals of about ten days. Jarring the beetles on sheets very early in the morning, beginning when trees are in flower, and continuing from four to six weeks, is probably the most certain procedure. There are various styles of sheets or receptacles for catching the insects as they fall from the tree. Clean culture.
Flat-headed Borer.—See Apple.
Pear-twig Beetle.—See Pear.
Plum-gouger (Coccotorus prunicida).—A small larva, feeding upon the kernel of the plum. The beetle bores a round hole in the plum instead of making a crescent mark like the curculio.
Remedy.—Catch the beetles in a curculio-catcher.
San Jose Scale.—See Apple.
European Fruit Scale (Lecanium corni).—A large circular scale occurring on plum; occasionally very destructive.
Remedy.—Thorough spraying with kerosene emulsion, one part to five of water, in the winter. More dilute emulsion or tobacco extracts in midsummer, when the young insects are on the leaves and young shoots. Miscible oils when trees are dormant.
Slug.—See Cherry
Tent Caterpillars.—See Apple.
Twig-pruner.—See Apple.
Poinsettia. Mealy-bugs.—See Citrus.
Pomegranate. Black Scale; Citrus Thrips; Florida wax
Scale.—See Citrus.
Oleander Scale.—See Hedera.
White-fly.—See Citrus.
Pomelo.—See Citrus.
Populus. Black Scale.—See Citrus.
Cottonwood Leap-beetle (Lina scripta).—A striped beetle feeding on the leaves and shoots of poplars and willows.
Remedy.—Arsenicals.
Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
Poplar Borer (Cryptorhynchus lapathi). — A whitish grub burrowing in the wood.
Treatment.—In nurseries, spray thoroughly about the middle of July with arsenate of lead to kill the parent beetles.
Potato. Colorado Potato-beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).— Beetle and larva feed upon the leaves.
Remedies.—Arsenicals, either dry or in spray, about a third stronger than for fruits. Hand-picking the beetle.
Flea-beetle (Halticini).—Small, dark-colored jumping beetles that riddle the leaves with holes.
Preventive—Bordeaux mixture as applied for potato blight acts as a repellent.
Potato Tuber-Worm (Phthorimaea operculella).—A small caterpillar burrowing in the stems and tubers both in the field and in storage.
Preventives.— Clean cultivation, sheep and hogs to destroy the small potatoes left in the field after digging. Crop-rotation over a considerable area. On digging, remove the potatoes at once to an uninfested storeroom. Do not leave them on the field over night.
Stalk-weevil (Trichobaris trinotata).—A grub boring in the stalk of the potato near or just below the ground. Serious in the West and in some places eastward.
Remedy.—Pull all infested vines as soon as they wilt, and spread them in the sun where the insects will be killed. Burn the vines as soon as the crop is harvested. Destroy all solanaceous weeds.
Wire-Worms.—See Corn.
Primula. White-fly.—See Citrus.
Privet or Prim. Privet Web-Worm (Diaphania quadristigmalis). —Small larva feeding in webs on the young shoots of the privet, appearing early in the season; two to four broods.
Remedies.—Trim the hedge as soon as the worms appear, and burn the trimmings. Probably the arsenicals will prove useful.
Prune.—See Plum,
Prunus.—See Plum.
Pseudo tsuga. Seed Chalcis (Megastigmus spermotrophus).— Small whitish grub devours the kernel of
the seed, often destroying the whole crop.
No known remedy.
Pyrus.—See Apple.
Quince. Green Aphis.—See Apple.
Quince Curculio (Contrachelus crataegi).— This curculio is somewhat larger than that infesting the
plum, and differs in its life-history. The grubs leave the fruits in the fall, and enter the ground, where they hibernate and transform to adults the next May, June or July, depending on the season.
Treatment.—When the adults appear, jar them from the tree onto sheets or curculio - catchers and destroy them. To determine when they appear, jar a few trees daily, beginning the latter part of May. Arsenicals. Pick and burn ail infested fruits a month before harvest.
Round-headed Borers.—See Apple.
Slug.—See Cherry.
Radish. Maggot (Pegomya brassicae).—Treated the same as the Cabbage Maggot, which see.
Raspberry.—See Bramble Fruits.
Rhododendron. Borer (Sesia rhododendri).—Whitish caterpillars burrowing in the trunk and larger branches which are often killed.
Treatment.—Dig out borers or cut out infested branches and burn.
Lace Bug (Leptobyrsa explanata).—-Small, lace-winged bugs on the under side of the leaves, causing them to turn brown and die.
Treatment.—Spray with soap solution.
Rhubarb. Rhubarb-curculio (Lixus concavus).—A grub ¼ inch long, boring into the crown and roots. It also attacks wild docks.
Remedy.—Burn all infested plants and keep down the docks. Hand-picking.
Rhus. Apple Tree-borer.—See Apple.
Jumping Sumac-beetle (Blepharida rhois).—Larva, ½ inch long, dull greenish yellow, feeding on leaves; two broods.
Remedy.—Arsenicals.
Ribes.—See Currant.
Rohinia. Leaf-miner (Odontota dorsalis).—A black and yellowish white grub about ¼ inch in length, mining the leaves, causing blister-like spots.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead the last of July to first of August.
Locust-Borer (Cyllene robiniae).—Large, brownish yellow grub burrowing in the trunk, causing large ugly scars. The beetle is black prettily marked with yellow stripes and bands.
Remedy.—None known.
Rose. Mealy-bug.—Tobacco extracts; syringe the plants in the morning, and two hours later syringe again with clean water. Robe Aphis (Macrosiphum rosae and Myzus rosarum).— Greenish plant-lice, attacking leaves and buds.
Treatment.—Tobacco extracts and soap solutions.
Rose-chafer, Rose-beetle, or "Rose-Bug."—See Grape.
Rose Leaf-hopper (Typhlocyba rosae).—A very small hopper, white, often mistaken for thrips, living on the leaves of roses.
Remedies.—Whale-oil soap; kerosene; kerosene emulsion; dry pyre thrum blown on bushes when leaves are wet; tobacco extracts.
Rose Midge (Neocerata rhabdophaga).—Small maggots, distorting leaf and flower-buds.
Treatment.—No satisfactory treatment known.
Rose Scale (Aulacaspis rosae).—Small, whitish circular scales.
Treatment.—Soap solutions or tobacco extracts when young are hatching.
White-fly.—See Tomato.
Rubus.—See Bramble Fruits.
Salix. Cottonwood Leaf-beetle.—See Populus.
Oyster-shell Scale.—See Apple.
Poplar-Borer. See Populus.
Willow-worm (Euvanesna antiopa).—Larva nearly 2 inches long, black, feeding upon leaves of willow, elm, and poplar two broods.
Remedy. —Arsenicals.
Salvia. Orthezia.—See Coleus.
White Fly.—See Tomato.
Scilla. Narcissus Bulb Fly.—See Narcissus.
Smilax. Citrus White Flt.—See Citrus.
Solanum.—See Potato.
Sorbus. San Jose Scale; Scurfy Scale.—See Apple.
Spinach. Flea-beetle.—See Potato.
Leaf-miner (Pegomya vicina).—Small maggot mining the leaves.
Treatment.—-Clean cultivation to destroy its wild food plant (lamb's quarters). Destroy all infested leaves. By raising spinach as an early or late crop, much of the damage can be avoided.
Spinach Aphis (Myzus persicae).—Same as green peach aphis.
Treatment.—Spray at first appearance of lice with "Black Leaf 40" tobacco extract, three-fourths pint to one hundred gallons of water, adding four pounds of soap.
Squash. Cucumber Beetles.—See Cucumber.
Melon Aphis.—See Muskmelon.
Squash Aphis (Nectarophora cucurbitae). — Large, light green plant-louse attacking the leaves.
Treatment.—Some as for melon aphis.
Squash Lady-bird.—See Cucumber.
Squash Stink-bug (Anasa tristis).—Large, dark brown bug hibernates as adult under rubbish. Female lays large brown eggs in patches on the leaves. The young are greenish, feed in colonies on under side of leaves, causing them to wilt and die.
Treatment.—Trap adults in spring under boards laid on the ground. Destroy eggs by hands. Young can be killed with "Black Leaf 40 tobacco extract, one pint in one hundred gallons of water, adding four to five pounds of soap.
Stem-borer (Melittia satyriniformis).—Soft, white, grub-like larva which bores inside the stem and causes rot to develop, killing the vine.
Preventives.—Plant early squashes as traps. As soon as the early crop is gathered, burn the vines to destroy eggs and larvae of the borer. Fall harrowing of infested fields will help to expose the pupae to the elements. Cut out borers whenever found. After the vines have grown to some length, cover some of the joints with earth, so that a new root-system will develop to sustain the plant in case the main root is injured.
Strawberry. Crown-borer (Tyloderma fragariae).—White grub, ⅕ inch long, boring into the crown of the plant in midsummer. The mature insect is a curculio or weevil.
Preventives.—Rotation of crops. Isolation of new beds from infested beds. Plant uninfested plants.
Fuller's Rose-Beetle (Aramigus fulleri).—White grub, ⅓ inch long, feeding in the crown. The adult is a grayish brown snout-beetle with a whitish bar on each wing-cover.
Treatment.—Short rotation. Plant on uninfested land.
Leaf-Roller (Ancylis comptana). — Larva less than H inch long, feeding on the leaves, and rolling them up in threads of silk; two Broods.
Treatment.—Turn under in the fall all old beds that have become worthless. Spray with arsenate of lead, four pounds in one hundred gallons of water, after the eggs are laid but before the leaves are folded—the first half of May in the latitude of New Jersey.
Root-Borer (Anarsia sp.).— Larva about ½ inch long, whitish, boring into the crown of the plant late in the season, and remaining in it over winter.
Remedy.—Burn the plant.
Root-borer (Typophorus canellus).—A whitish grub ⅕ inch in length feeding on the roots. The parent beetle is brownish, and appears in great numbers in May.
Treatment.—Arsenicals to kill the beetles. Plant new beds at a distance from old ones.
Root-Louse (Aphis forbesii),—From July to the close of the season the hoe appear in great numbers on the crowns and on the roots of the plants.
Remedies.—Rotation in planting. Disinfect plants coming from infested patches by dipping the crowns and roots in kerosene emulsion, or tobacco extract. Fumigation.
Saw-fly (Emphytus maculatus).—Larva nearly ¼ inch long, greenish, feeding upon the loaves; two broods.
Remedies.—Hellebore; arsenicals for second brood.
Weevil (Anthonomus signatus).—Beetle ⅕ inch long, reddish black, feeding on flower-buds, particularly those of the polleniferous varieties.
Preventives.—Plant principally profusely flowering varieties. Clean culture. Destroy all wild blackberry and raspberry vines in the vicinity.
White Grubs.—See Corn.
Sweet Pea. Tarnished Plant-bug.—See After. (They puncture and kill the flower-stems.)
Sweet Potato. Cutworms. —Poisoned bait; late planting; keep the land free from weeds the previous fall.
Flea-beetle (Chaetocnema confinis).—Small, dark-colored beetles, which attack the plants soon after they are reset.
Treatment.—Dip the plants in a strong solution of arsenate of lead before resetting, spray once or twice later with the same. Rotation of crops. Destroy all bindweed and wild morning- glory plants.
Root-borer (Cylas formicarius).—A whitish grub ¼ inch in length, burrowing through the tubers.
Preventive.—Burn infested tubers and the vines.
Saw-fly (Schizocerus ebnus and S. privatus).—Small larva about ¼ inch long, working upon the leaves. The fly is about the size of a house-fly.
Remedies.—Hellebore and arsenicals.
Tortoise Beetles (Cassidini).—Beetles of brilliant colors and their slug-like larvae which eat holes in the leaves of newly reset plants.
Treatment.—Same as for next.
Tamarix. Cane-borer (Schistocerus hamatus).—Whitish grub, ⅖ inch in length, burrowing in the twigs.
Treatment.—Cut and burn all infested branches.
Theobroma. Cacao Beetle (Steirastoma depressum).— Large grubs, 1½ inches long, burrowing under the bark.
Control.—Dig out or kill with a wire.
Cacao Fruit Fly (Ceratitis punctata).—A small maggot attacking the pods.
Treatment.—Spray when flies appear with sweetened arsenate of lead, four pounds to one hundred gallons of water.
Cacao Thrips (Heliothrips rubrocincta).—Small active insects attacking leaves and pods. In the young the abdomen is banded with red.
Treatment.—Careful cultivation to produce vigorous growth.
Thuya. Bagworm.—See Juniper.
Tomato. Flea-beetles.—Dip the young plants in a strong solution of arsenate of lead. Bordeaux mixture acts as a repellent. Fruit-Worm (Heliothia obsoleta).— Larva 1 inch in length, pale green or dark brown, faintly striped, feeding upon the fruit. Also on corn and cotton.
Treatment.—Hand-picking. Avoid planting close to corn or cotton, or after either of these crops or after peas or beans. Practise fall or winter plowing.
Tomato-Worm (Phlegethontius sexta and P. quinquemaculata).— A very large green worm feeding upon the stems and leaves of the tomato and husk tomato. Seldom abundant enough to be very serious; kept in check by parasites.
Remedies,—Hand-picking; rotation of crops; clean culture; turkeys.
White-fly (Aleyrodes vaporariorum).—Tomatoes grown under glass are often badly infested with white flies, the young of which are scale-like and occur on the under side of the leaves.
Treatment. —Fumigation.
Toxylon. Baqworm.—See Juniper.
San Jose Scale.—See Apple.
Tropaeolum.—See Nasturtium.
Tsuga. Bag Worm.—See Juniper.
Turnip.—See Cabbage.
Ulmus. Canker-worm.—See Apple.
Elm Leaf-beetle (Galerucella luteola).—A small beetle, imported from Europe, which causes great devastation in some of the eastern states by eating the green matter from elm leaves, causing the tree to appear as if scorched.
Remedy.—Arsenate of lead, Sue pounds to one hundred gallons, just as the eggs are hutching.
Elm Saw-fly Leaf-miner (Kaliosysphinga ulmi).—A greenish white larva feeding between the two layers of the leaf, causing large blotches; when abundant, the leaf dies and falls. They sometimes kill the trees in two or three years.
Treatment.—While the blotches are small, spray with "Black Leaf 40," tobacco extract, one gallon in 800 gallons of water, adding four pounds of whale-oil soap to each hundred gallons.
Leopard Moth (Zeuzera pyrina).—White to pinkish caterpillars boring at first in the smaller twigs and branches. Later the nearly mature caterpillars attack the larger branches and trunk, doing very serious injury. The white moths, beautifully marked with black and blue, have a wing expanse of about 2⅓ inches.
Treatment.—Cut off and destroy all infested branches. The spread of the pest is very slow if the branches of the trees do not interlace.
Willow-Worm.—See Salix.
Violet. Aphis.—Fumigation when grown under glass.
Gall-fly (Contarinia violicola).—The adult is a minute mosquito-like fly. The whitish or yellowish maggot feeds in folds of the opening leaves, which become deformed, turn brown, and die.
Treatment.—Fumigation is practically of no value. Thorough hand-picking as soon as any sign of injury is noticed. Do not let toe pest become established in the house.
Red-spider (Tetranychus bimaculatus). — Minute mites which cause the leaves to turn paler and become yellowish.
Treatment.—On greenhouse violets there is nothing better than a stiff spray of clear water as applied as not to drench the beds. Repeat the spraying once or twice a week.
Vitis.—See Grape.
Walnut.—See Hickory.
Watermelon. Melon Aphis.—See Muskmelon.
Yucca (Lonchaea chalybea).—Small maggot destroying the buds. Very serious pest.
Treatment.—Collect and burn all infested shoots.
Long-horned Beetle (Lagochirus obsoletus).—A white grub 1⅕ inches in length when mature, boring in the trunk and doing great damage. The adult is a large reddish brown beetle and feeds on the foliage.
Treatment.—When beetles are most abundant prune plants to the ground and burn. Spray with arsenicals to destroy beetles.
Sphinx Caterpillars (Dilophonota ello).—Large caterpillar feeding on the foliage. The parent moth is a large hawk- moth rather showily colored.
Treatment.—Arsenate of lead, six pounds to one hundred gallons of water.
Zea.—See Corn. C. R. CROSBY. Robert Matheson.
Spraying.
Spraying is the art of protecting cultivated plants from insect enemies and vegetable parasites by covering them with a material which shall have a toxic or physically injurious effect upon the animal or vegetable organism.
Historical sketch.
The history of spraying is interesting. The story of its progress in America diners in details from the history of its development in Europe, but the main features in each country are very similar. In both places, insect enemies made the first draft on the ingenuity of man in devising methods by which to hold them in check. Vegetable parasites were studied afterward. It is a curious fact that, in the case of both insects and fungi, in America, some of the most injurious forms came from Europe and were the means of directing attention to wholesale methods of destroying them. Some of these enemies, comparatively harmless in their native home, like the currant-worm and codlin-moth, have done more to forward spraying methods in the United States than anything else.
The first insecticides used in America, as well as in Europe, were not of a poisonous nature. They were substances that had an injurious effect on the body of the insect. These were of two kinds, mainly: infusions which were astringent, and caustic substances which burned the tissues. Tobacco water and alkaline washes have been used for many years. One of the first poisons to be used was white hellebore. The employment of arsenical poisons may be said to belong to America, and even at the present time has small place in the economy of fruit-growing in Europe. The widespread use of arsenical poisons is largely due to the influence of the incursion of the potato-bug. There are no reliable records which give us the exact date of the first use of paris green. It probably occurred about 1865 or 1866. However, towards 1870 paris green was used very generally throughout the western region in which the potato-bug first appeared. At this time it was applied almost exclusively in the dry form diluted with gypsum or flour. From potato to cotton, tobacco and finally to fruit trees, is the development of this poison for destroying leaf-eating insects. So far as records are available, it appears that fruit trees were first sprayed with paris green between 1873 and 1875. Among pioneer sprayers, should be mentioned the names of C. V. Riley, United States Entomologist; LeBarron, State Entomologist of Illinois; William Saunders, London, Ontario, Can.; J. S. Woodward, Lockport, N. Y.; T. G. Yeomans & Sons, Walworth, N. Y.; A. J. Cook, Agricultural College, Mich.
Following paris green came london purple, then white arsenic, and later arsenate of lead. Since that time many different forms of arsenical poisons have been compounded, offered to the public and frequently used. A few years ago paris green was used extensively, but its popularity now is decreasing, probably because it contains a large percentage of soluble arsenic, which increases the danger of foliage injury. London purple has been largely dropped by fruit-growers, owing to its variable quality. White arsenic, in combination with soda and with lime, forms a reliable insecticide and is used by some growers, especially those who make a practice of preparing the home-made solutions. Arsenate of lead is the insecticide used most widely by the growers at the present time. It possesses several advantages, the more important of which are a small percentage of soluble arsenic and better sticking qualities.
The sucking insects presented a more difficult problem of control than the biting insects, and a longer time elapsed before effective methods had been devised for treatment. One of the first efficient sprays for these insects was kerosene in the form of a soap-and-water emulsion, which was recommended by Riley and Hub- bard. Among the earlier sprays for these insects was also tobacco and whale-oil soaps, both of which are used rather widely at the present time. Later the miscible oils were introduced. These proved to be very effective and are still used. The most important step in the control of the sucking insects is marked by the introduction of the lime-sulfur wash. This mixture, which was originally developed as a dip for the control of scab on sheep, was first used as an insecticide on fruit trees in 1886 by F. Dusey, of Fresno, California. The wash proved very efficient and with modifications came quickly into favor. Now lime-sulfur is the leading insecticide for the control of certain scale insects and also, in a more dilute form, the leading fungicide for the more troublesome diseases of the apple.
The treatment of fungous diseases of plants by liquid applications began with the discovery of bordeaux mixture. Early in the 1880's, diseases of grape-vines threatened the extinction of French vineyards. The situation engaged the attention of French investigators. Notable among them were A. Millardet and his co-workers of the Academy of Science, Bordeaux, France. He, with others, discovered partly by accident and partly by experiment that solutions of copper prevented the development of downy mildew. After much experimentation, "bouillie Bordellaise" was found to be effective in preventing the growth of downy mildew and other plant parasites infesting the grape in that region. The announcement was definitely made in 1885. The following year the European formula for bordeaux mixture was published in several places in the United States, and immediately there began an unparalleled period of activity in economic vegetable pathology. This mixture, though somewhat modified and developed, continues to be a leading fungicide. The value of lime-sulfur as a fungicide applied to the peach during the dormant season to control the leaf-curl has been recognized. About 1907, Cordley discovered that lime-sulfur in more dilute form may be applied to the apple and some other tree fruits in foliage without danger of foliage injury, and that in addition to being as effective as bordeaux it produces no spray injury on the fruit. Since then lime-sulfur as a fungicide has practically replaced bordeaux in the case of those fruits for which it can be used on the foliage with safety. The self-boiled lime-sulfur was developed about 1907 as
a fungicide for the control of the brown rot of the peach.
The rapidity of the spread of spraying knowledge among fruit-growers is remarkable. Only a few years ago it was an unknown art by the rank and file. Today agricultural clubs and granges purchase their spraying materials by the carload direct from the manufacturer. The American farmer leads his fellow-workers in all parts of the world in the practice of spraying.
The principles of spraying.
A spray may be effective (1) by hitting the enemy, (2) by placing poison before the depredator, and (3) by protecting the plant with a covering unfavorable to the growth of the pest. The cautious fanner insures his crop against injury by insect or vegetable parasites by spraying. The fruit-grower asks, "Do I need to spray this year? My trees are not blossoming." “Certainly," we answer, "spray to protect the foliage from possible injury by insect or fungous disease." Healthy foliage is essential to the protection of health and vigor and fruit-buds. Spray this year for next year's crop.
Insecticides kill by contact or by means of a poisonous principle; their efficiency depends largely on the time and thoroughness of the application. If applied too soon they may be dissipated before the insects appear; if applied late the injury is only partly prevented, because insects feed less voraciously and are harder to kill as they approach maturity in the larval stage. With the vegetable parasite, the case is not essentially different. The tree is covered with a thin coating which destroys spores of fungi resting there and prevents other spores from germinating. Fig. 1326 shows the stage of development of fruit-bud calling for bordeaux mixture and paris green. The keynote to success is thoroughness. Hasty sprinklings are worse than useless; they discourage and disappoint the beginner. Full protection is not afforded unless each leaf, twig and branch has been covered. Time is the next most important factor bearing on success. The early spray is most effective. This applies particularly to the treatment of fungous diseases. Spray before the buds open. Get ahead of the enemy.
Spraying machinery.
Bordeaux mixture was first applied with a broom (Fig. 1327). Poison distributors were first made in America for the protection of cotton, potato and tobacco. There are five general types of pumps: (1) The hand portable pump, often attached to a pail or other small reservoir, suitable for limited garden areas. (2) The knapsack pump carried on a man's back and operated by the carrier. The tank is made of copper, holds five gallons and is fitted with a neat pump which may be operated with one hand while the nozzle is directed with the other. This pump has been modified recently so that all the pumping is done when the sprayer is filled and before it is placed on the shoulders. Excellent for spraying small vineyards and vegetable- gardens. (3) A barrel pump; a strong force-pump fitted to a kerosene barrel or larger tank suitable for spraying young trees; may be mounted on a cart, wagon, or stoned-boat, depending on the character of the ground and size of trees. (4) A gear-sprayer; being a tank provided with a pump and mounted on wheels. The pump is operated by power borrowed from the wheels as they revolve, and transferred by means of chain and sprockets.
Suitable for vineyards and field crops, which may be satisfactorily covered by the spray as the machine moves along. For this reason it is not adapted to orchard work. (5) The power sprayer: power being furnished generally by gasolene, sometimes by compressed air. When the trees are large and the orchard over 5 acres in extent, a power sprayer will usually pay. Some of these various types of machinery are shown in Figs. 1328-1335. In recent years the spraying of field crops and shade trees has developed rapidly. The spray pumps have been adapted to this work by the use of special attachments. For the field crops, nozzles are distributed along a horizontal arm, which makes it possible to cover a wide strip. The sprayers for shade trees are equipped with a more powerful pump, which is usually multiple-cylinder. The pump must be capable of delivering a large quantity of material each minute under a pressure of 200 to 300 pounds. The nozzles for this work are of the solid stream type and are usually fitted with interchangeable tips varying from ⅛- to ¼-inch aperture. In order that the tops of high trees may be reached by the spray mixture, it is necessary to use a long extension rod, as well as very high pressure.
The essentials of a good pump are (1) durability: secured by having working parts made of material least susceptible to the action of the various spray solutions, friction considered; (2) strength: obtained by a good- sized cylinder, substantial valves, wall and piston; (3) easily operated: found in a pump with a long handle, large air-chamber and smoothly finished working parts. A pump should be strong enough to feed two leads of hose and throw a good spray from four nozzles. Nearly all spray mixtures require constant stirrings to prevent settling and insure uniformity, and an agitator is a necessary part of the equipment.
Nozzles.—Much of the efficiency of a spraying machine depends upon the nozzle. It should be chosen for the particular work to be done, rather than for any special design. The development of nozzle construction has been rapid, new features being embodied as necessity demanded, until today there are four main types, each of which is intended for specific work: (1) The Bordeaux nozzle is the oldest of the modern types. It came into general use about 1890 and was at first universally adopted for all spray work. It throws a stream which may be regulated from a solid jet to a coarse fan-shaped spray, Doth of which are too coarse for general use. The Bordeaux has, however, one place in the list of modern spray nozzles and that is for the codlin-moth spray. For this application it is desirable to force the material into the calyx cups of the developing fruit and no nozzle does this quite so efficiently as the Bordeaux. (2) The Vermorel was the next step in development after the Bordeaux. It was very much superior to the latter, breaking the material up into finer particles, and was generally used until about 1906. This nozzle, however, does not possess any desirable features not found in the disc types and therefore has no special uses in modern spraying. (3) The disc nozzles are standard for general spraying work. They are represented by a large number of sorts, each made by different manufacturers, but all working on the same principle. The material is whirled inside of the nozzle before it reaches the final outlet, thus breaking it up into finely divided parts and producing the desired mist. The material is lastly passed through a disc, which may have either a large or small opening. For orchard and small crop spraying, the small opening is used", in which case the nozzle should be 3 to 7 feet from the object to be sprayed. For taller orchard trees and for small ornamental trees, the large opening is used. This produces a solid jet which breaks into finer particles at a distance from the nozzles, depending upon the pressure used. (4) Shade tree nozzles, to be used only for spraying very tall ornamental trees, and in connection with at least 300 pounds pressure. They throw a solid stream 30 or more feet in the air, at which point the material is broken into a coarse mist. This type came into use at the time of the introduction of the brown-tail and gypsy moths in the New England states, and has since been widely used for parks, estates and forest spraying. C. S. Wilson.
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