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eo. DEPARPMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY.
BULLETIN No. 23.
RRO KR Is
OF
OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIMENTS
IN
THE PRACTICAL WORK OF THE DIVISION,
MADE
UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST,
(PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE.)
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE,
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CONTENTS,
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REPORT ON NEBRASKA INSECTS... .- 0000 cect sccece ecee ese. Lawrence Bruner .-
REPORT ON VARIOUS METHODS FOR DESTROYING SCALE INsECTs, D. W. Coquil-
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REPORT UPON EXPERIMENTS CHIEFLY WITH RESIN COMPOUNDS ON PHYL-
LOXERA VASTATRIX, AND OBSERVATIONS MADE DURING THE YEAR, Albert
Koebele =.=. aes ets ciccre Sei BES ea ee INE wae meee omnes Seen Sate
ENTOMOLOGICAL NOTES FROM MISSOURI FOR THE SEASON OF 1890, Mary LE.
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REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE SEASON IN Iow,......-.....Herbert Osborn..
REPORT ON SOME OF THE INSECTS AFFECTING CEREAL CROPS.../. M. Webster..
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LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF ENTOMOLOGY,
Washington, D. C., January 3, 1891.
S1R: I have the honor to submit for publication Bulletin No. 23 of
this Division. It comprises the reports of the field agents of the Division
for the past year (1890), a summary of which has been included in your
annual report.
Respectfully,
C. V. RILEY,
Entomologist.
Hon. J. M. Rusk,
Secretary of Agriculture.
INTRODUCTION.
The reports of the six permanent field agents of the Division are in-
cluded in this bulletin. They are printed this year in full, but it should
be understood that they are little more than summaries of the work in
general performed by each one. Special reports upon specific subjects
have from time to time been sent in by special direction, and these
have been published in INSECT LIFE.
Mr. Lawrence Bruner, who last year reported upon the insects inju-
rious to young trees on tree claims, has the present season devoted
much of his attention to insects affecting, or liable to affect, the Sugar
beet, a crop of growing importance in the State in which he is located.
Although but one season’s collecting has been done, some 64 species
have been observed to prey upon this crop. As has been shown, nearly
all of these can be readily kept in subjection by the use of the kero-
sene emulsion or the arsenites.
Mr. D. W. Coquillett’s report is mainly devoted to methods and ap-
paratus for the destruction of scale insects by means of fumigation,
The experiments were aimed at the Red Scale, which is one of the most
difficult to treat with washes. He describes the simplified tents, the
rigging which enables them to be used rapidly, and shows the advantage
of excluding the actinic rays of the light. Judging from recent Cali-
fornia newspapers the use of this method of fighting scale-insects is
rapidly increasing and the comparatively expensive apparatus is al-
ready owned by a large number of fruit-growers. This improved
method is the legitimate outgrowth of experiments which we instituted
at Los Angeles in 1887, and possesses the advantage over spraying that
itecan hardly be done ina slovenly manner. If used at all its effects
are nearly complete.
Mr. Albert Koebele, while reporting upon a number of interesting
fruit pests, notably the Tent Caterpillars of the Pacific slope, and a
- Noctuid larva which destroys the buds of certain fruit trees, devotes
most of his report to the description of certain tests, which I directed
him to make with different resin compounds against the Grape Phyllox-
era in the Sonoma Valley during September and October of the past
year. The results have been fully as satisfactory as we anticipated, and
the economy of the process is very striking, labor being practically the
only expense.
7
8
Miss Mary E. Murtfeldt reports upon the insects of the season in
eastern Missouri, and also gives the results of experiments which she
has made with certain insecticides submitted to her from this office for
trial. She also presents descriptions of four Microlepidoptera, which
are new in the role of feeders upon Apple.
Prof. Herbert Osborn reports upon the insects injurious to forage.
crops, meadows, and pastures in his State. His report last year was
mainly taken up with the consideration of the Leaf-Hoppers, to which
he gives some further consideration this year, adding some notes on
locusts and crickets. He presents also a series of miscellaneous obser-
vations.
Mr. F. M. Webster devotes his report mainly to the Hessian Fly, dis-
cussing the number and development of broods, the effect of the larve
upon plants, the effect of the weather on the development of the fall
brood, and preventive measures. He also gives some notes upon three
of the species of Plant-lice, found commonly upon wheat.
In presenting this bulletin for publication, I desire to thank these
agents for the care with which they have followed out instructions and
for the intelligent manner in which they have conducted these investi-
gations. |
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REPORT ON NEBRASKA INSECTS.
By LAWRENCE BRUNER.
LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.
LINCOLN, NEBR., October 16, 1890.
Str: Herewith is submitted a report of my work in Nebraska for the yearas special
field agent of the Division of Entomology of the United States Department of Agri-
culture.
In addition to my observations on the general insect depredations within the State,
I have incidentally given some time to the study of such insects as were taken upon
the sugar and other beets during the summer,
This special study was undertaken at the suggestion of our experiment station
director, who was quite anxious that ‘‘ beet insects” should be made the subject of
a special bulletin to be issued from the station some time during the coming winter.
I accordingly include herewith a brief summary of the results of this special study.
Yours truly,
LAWRENCE BRUNER,
Field Agent.
Prof. C. V. RILEY,
U. S. Entomologist.
The past summer has not been particularly noted as one in which
insect depredators were especially abundant or destructive to the vari-
ous crops that are raised in the State. In fact, taking the State as a
whole, the injuries from this source have been rather less than is usually
the case. No one species, so far as I have been informed, has been a
pest during the year. The Corn Root-worm (Diabrotica longicornis),
while it has spread some since my last report, was much less abundant
than last year. Cut-worms did not appear in early summer So univer-
sally over the State, nor did they do anything near the damage they
did the year past. No Army-worm depredations have been reported at
the station, nor have any come to my own observation; while the Corn
Ear-worm (Heliothis armigera) has been less destructive in most portions
of the region along the Missouri River.
If any one insect has been on the increase and has caused more in-
jury than usual, it was the almost universal Codling Moth (at least
universal wherever apples are grown or eaten). But if this insect has
become apparently more widespread within this region than it was
9
ay)
formerly, it is quite consoling to know that the warfare against it has
also become more general. Almost every fruit-grower has at last come
to the forced conclusion that warfare against this insect, at least, has
become an absolute necessity, and has accordingly instituted a rigor-
ous fight against it. The arsenious spray is the almost universal
remedy resorted to with our fruit-growers here in Nebraska, as it is
in other localities. Hither London purpleor Paris green are the poisons
used, and where applied properly always result favorably to the or-
chardist.
THE GREEN-STRIPED MAPLE WORM.
The Green-striped Maple-worm (Anisota rubicunda) appeared quite
numerously again in the towns and cities of Nebraska, and has done
much injury to the Soft Maples (Acer saccharinum) growing along their
streets. Here in Lincoln, the first or spring brood of larve-was suffi-
ciently numerous to defoliate many of the largest trees before they
had become fully matured, and in that manner proved to be quite
effectual towards self-extermination. Many of the larve actually
starved to death; while others were so weakened from starvation that
they either died in the chrysalis state, or else were so exhausted when
they emerged as moths that there was but little egg-laying for a Ssec-
ond brood. Some of the neighboring cities and towns were less for-
tunate, and had a much more plentiful fall brood of the larvae, and
hence will be well supplied with the insect next spring unless something
unforeseen prevents it.
Considerable has been done in the way of remoniee by the citizens of
Lincoln against the second brood. Many of the moths were gathered
and destroyed before they had time to deposit their eggs and later on
in the season spraying the trees with London purple and Paris green
was resorted to with good results. |
While a moderately dry summer usually has the tendency to increase
the number of most of our injurious insects, several such years imme-
diately following one another have the opposite effect. So it has been
with the summer which has just closed. The drought was so very
marked that even the more hardy insect life was sensibly affected by
its severity. Such species as had been favored by the seareity of their
more frail parasites during several years of moderate drought, this year
were themselves, to a certain degree, sensibly affected by its continu-
ance and severity.
LOCUSTS OR GRASSHOPPERS.
Locusts or grasshoppers of several species were quite numerous in
certain localities, especially in cities away from the destructive influ-
ence of fowls and such other predaceous animals as are always at hand
in the country ready to “ gobble up” various insects. These locusts did
some damage, of course, but not nearly so much as was done by them
EL
last year. Whether this decrease in their numbers has been due to
parasites or to disease, I can not say. |
One noticeable fact in connection with the subject of insect depreda-
tions, in this particular region at least, is the growing interest which
the general public is taking, and the tendency on the part of the people
to help themselves against this host of insect enemies which is assailing
them on al} sides. Whether this interest is traceable to any particular
source, or whether necessity is the awakening factor, I can not say. I
trust, though, that my work in this direction has not been entirely in
vain.
BEET INSECTS.
Fiver since the Sugar Beet industry was first agitated here in the
West, and now especially since the project has assumed such a prac-
tical form, it has become of general interest. For several years now the
cultivation of the sugar beet has been a theme for much speculation,
and to some extent also of experimentation. Now that a large factory
has been built at Grand Island in this State, the sugar beet is to be one
of our regular crops year after year. It will no longer be a plant that
is grown out of mere curiosity or simply for experimentation.
It has been ascertained in connection with the culture of the sugar
beet that certain insects show a tendency to attack and injureit. In
this respect the beet is not any different from other cultivated plants;
or, for that matter, wild or native ones also. In fact, it is too evident
that certain ones of these insect enemies seem to prefer this ‘‘*new”
crop to any of these which have been cultivated in the same region for
a considerable time.
It was therefore thought here at the experiment station, early last
summer, that it might be well, as far as practicable in connection with
other lines of work, to give some attention to these insect enemies of
the sugar beet. Accordingly the following “press bulletin” was sent
out over the State:
SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO THE SUGAR-BEET CULTURE.
Reports from the sub-stations established in the spring by the State Experiment
Station for the purpose of determining the effect of the varying conditions of the
soil and climate on the growth of and the production of sugar in the Sugar beet are
in the main good.
In many places, especially in the extreme western part of the State, beets have
suffered from hot weather and a lack of rain; asarule, though, they seem to withstand
these unfavorable conditions as well as corn and better than small grain.
From some points reports tell us that insect enemies have begun their ray-
Aes Aho
As there are several kinds of insects that attack the beet, and as they have already
been reported as having begun operations, it seems the proper time to begin to learn
something of their appearance, habits, and the best means of meeting their advances.
To this end the beets should be watched very carefully, from day to day and at dif-
ferent times of the day, and even in the evening, for any insect, bug, or worm that
seems to have an interest in them; search the leaves, pull up the beets and search the
12
roots and the top layer of the soil, and when any marauder is found send it to the
experiment station for study and identification.
Directions for sending such specimens I copy from Bulletin XIV on “ Insects Inju-
rious to Young Trees on Tree Claims,” just issued:
‘‘ Whenever possible, insects should be packed alive in some tight tin box—the
tighter the better, as air-holes are not needed—along with a supply of their appro-
priate food sufficient to last them on the journey; otherwise they generally die on -
the road and shrivel up.
‘*Send as full an account as possible of their habits; what part of the plant they
infest, time of day when they are most active, amount of damage done, ete.
‘*Packages should be marked with the name of the sender and should be addressed
to the entomologist of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebr.”
It will aid very materially in forming conclusions if all people who have planted
seed this season will send from time to time reports of the conditions of their beets
to the experiment station,
Address:
H. H. NICHOLSON,
Agricultural Experiment Station, Lincoln, Nebr.
The very dry summer may have had considerable to do towards
influencing much of the insect injury to the beets grown within the
region designated, and some species of insects may have worked upon _
this plant that ordinarily would not have done so. In many localities
various insects were observed to congregate among the leaf stems just
above the ground that could not have been there for mischief, since
they were such forms as do not feed upon growing plants. Especially
was this true in portions of the State where the drought was severest
and where other refugees from the burning sun and parched soil were
scarce or entirely wanting. In many of these localities a great variety
of insect life was always sure to be found hidden away during the day-
time in such places. Not only beetles but also representatives of such
other orders as the Hymenoptera, Hemiptera, Neuroptera, Orthoptera,
Diptera, and Lepidoptera were quite common in such localities. Even
many water-inhabiting forms frequently occurred in company with the
others.
Of course all of these insects that were found on or about the roots
of the beets were sent in to the station both by the field agents and
by the various correspondents, who took an interest in the investiga-
tions under way. To separate most of these “refugees” from such-
other forms as might possibly be there for mischief was, of course, quite
easily done at the station by those who were accustomed to the habits
of most of the insects under consideration. A few of them were, how-
ever, more difficult to single out, and required special study to decide
positively, which in nearly every case was accomplished.
In the study of this subject it was quickly demonstrated that almost
all of the insect enemies of the sugar beet, as well as of the common
garden and other varieties, were either weed feeders or else were such
as are very general feeders. It was also ascertained that nearly if not -
quite all of the insects of whatsoever description that attack other
13
Chenopodiaceous plants, as the various species of “tumble weeds,”
the “pig-weed,” Atriplices, etc., the purslane and other juicy weeds,
as also many of those that attack the various Crucifere and Solanacex,
will also feed upon the beet. Not a single species of insect has thus
far been reported by any of the agents of the station, or by correspond-
ents, that is exclusively a beet feeder. Every one of them has been as-
certained to attack some one or more of the other plants that are also
common to the region. Only a very few species have appeared in num-
bers sufficiently great to be what could be termed ‘ destructive” to the
beet within the region covered by these studies or investigations; and
these few are of such a nature that they can be readily combated.
Iu their modes of attack upon the beet these various insects, so far
as they have been studied, are either leaf-feeders or root-borers, 7. e.,
they either attack the foliage which they devour or from which they
suck the juices by inserting their beaks, or they bore into or gnaw the
roots. Later on in our investigations we may find that there are others
that will attack the seeds and seed stems. In either of the former cases
the result is an injury to the beet, whether it is being cultivated for the
table, for feeding to stock, or for the manufacture of sugar. Should
future study reveal others that attack the seed of the beet these latter
would of course be of direct injury to the seed industry since much
seed will necessarily have to be raised to provide for the large crops
that are required each year for sugar.
Having now become fully convinced that the cultivation of the Sugar
Beet is not without its drawbacks here in the West, and that there are
insects which we must contend against and overcome in raising this
crop, aS well as in the raising of corn, wheat, and potatoes, we see
the necessity of beginning our fight at once if we would prevent much
future loss.. By prompt action in the beginning, when the enemies are
few in numbers and less generally distributed, we will have a much
easier time of it; besides, our losses from this cause will be infinitely
smaller thau if we neglect them and permit them to go on increasing
and spreading unmolestedly.
The following list embraces all such species of insects as were either
found to injure the beet here in Nebraska or else have been recorded
by others as attacking this plant within the region referred to:
LIST OF BEET INSECTS.
Species that attack the Leaves.
LEPIDOPTERA.
1. Spilosoma virginica, Fab.—The larva of this very common insect, is one of
the first noticed to injure the beet. It also infests a large number of other
plants.
2. Spilosoma isabella, Abb.—The larva, like that of the preceding, attacks the beet
and many of our common weeds.
3. Mamestra picta, Harr.—Larva occasionally attacks the leaves of beet and other
garden plants.
6.
10.
11.
12.
13.
16.
Ihe
18.
19.
20.
21
22,
14
. Eurycreon rantalis, Guen.—The larva of this small Pyralid moth is one of our
most destructive beet insects. It is the oneusually known as the Garden Web-
worm; and also attacks a number of other plants among which are the ‘‘ Pig-
weed,” the tumble weed, purslane, etc.
. Mamestra trifolii, Rott.—Larva quite common on beets; and sometimes doing
considerable injury by gnawing away the leaves and the entire tops of small
plants. Also a purslane insect. .
Plusia brassice, Riley.—The larva occasionally attacks the beet, but more com-
monly the turnip, cabbage, and other Crucifere.
. Deilephila lineata, Fab.—Larva found feeding on beet leaves in Lincoln, Nebr.,
by Mr. H. Marsland. Oe eee Eee do! Saas
Water enough to make -.-.---.--..- so scctse =. Sallons== 300
did not prove fatal to as large a percnnaee of Red seas as did one con-
sisting of:
COPA CT. 1000 ie aa es ea Sr tn ee iene Be Oe aT GCS pounds.. 6
ROSIN Sus S26 3 Sow ck oe oases ae eee eee eee Pee eae see doz---5 20
Fish oil 22's sso. c Gack tee ons soa ee See ee eee a eee pints... 3
Wiaterenoug hito makes eis th peeiese Ue See eae eee gallons.. 100
Now, if it is the caustic property of the wash that proves fatal to the
scale insects, it is evident that the wash containing the largest amount
of the caustic agent would prove fatal to the largest number of scale
insects, but the reverse of this was really the case; the wash containing
the smallest amount of the caustic agent, the caustic property of which
was still further lessened by the addition of the oil, proved fatal to the
largest number of the insects. On the other hand, the addition of the
oil, while reducing the caustic property of the wash, would increase its
varnishing qualities, since it is a fact well-known to painters that the
addition of oil to a varnish improves its qualities. For these reasons
it seems quite certain that it is the suffocating properties of the wash
and not its caustic nature that cause it to prove fatal to the scale insects
which have been sprayed with it.
I have seen orange trees that had been sprayed with a wash so caustie
that it killed fully nine-tenths of the leaves on the trees, burnt the bark
brown, and caused nearly all the oranges to drop off, and yet quite a
number of the Red scale insects located on the oranges still remaining
on the tree were alive. This will show the utter uselessness of attempt-
ing to destroy the Red scale on citrus trees by the use of caustic washes.
THE LIME, SALT, AND SULPHUR WASH FOR THE SAN JOSH SCALE.
For destroying the San José seale (Aspidiotus perniciosus Comstock)
on dormant deciduous fruit trees many growers in this State use a wash
composed or the following ingredients in the proportions here given:
Sulip WUT e se Se cre aa cee,