6S 



SOME OF THE MORE IMPORTANT INSECTS ATTACKING 



NORTHERN NUTS 



By Fred E. Brooks 



Associate Entomologist U. S. Department of Agriculture 



The prevalence of insect pests need not be regarded as an alarm- 

 ing obstacle to nut growing in the Nortli, and yet there are numer- 

 ous species of insects which are capable of destroying our nut crops. 

 On the whole I presume there are fewer insects that attack nuts in 

 this country- than commonly attack apples, but apple growers are 

 not limited in planting nor prevented- from making profits on account 

 of insect depredations. Neither should the probability of more or less 

 insect injury discourage the would-be planter of nut trees. 



The presence of an insect in any locality may mean, among other 

 considerations, that the soil, and climatic conditions of that locality 

 are favorable to the jilant upon which the insect feeds. We may be 

 sure that wherever the Baltimore butterfly is abundant, nearby is a 

 congenial spot where the turtle's-head, the food plant of the butterfly, 

 flourishes. Just so. in localities where there are many chestnut 

 weevils we may expect to find chestnut trees thriving and fruiting 

 generously. The samie is true of the associations of many other in- 

 sects and plants. 



Theoretically speaking, one would not care to risk the expenditure 

 of nuich time or money in propagating a plant in a region that was 

 destitute of insects that might attack that plant. The absence of such 

 insects would possibly indicate a lack of natural conditions favoring 

 the growth of the plant in question. Thus the presence in any locality 

 of insects that feed on nuts may mean that nuts thrive naturally in 

 that locality and that insects are there because of the abundance of 

 a favorite food. 



J\Iay I hasten to add. Iiowever, that this fact should not Icid to an 

 under-estimation of the possibilities of insect destructiveness, nor en- 

 courage lax methods in dealing with injurious species. In the begin- 

 ning of any nut-growing enterprise we should anticipate the coming 

 of insect pests and be ready to meet them. The planting of pure 

 stands of native nut trees sets up a condition under which insects com- 



