80 ANNUAL REPORT. . 
changing to chrysalis. It occasionally transforms within the hollowed out stalk. 
The only method of keeping this insect in check is to pull up and burn the dis- 
eased vines. 
A closely related pest is the Pickle worm, (Phakellura nitidalis, Cramer ). 
This is a slender, soft, greenish-white caterpillar, dotted with heavy black spots 
from which proceed soft hairs. It is found inside the fruit of squahes, melons 
and cucumbers that are ready for the table, and when abundant is very annoy- 
ing to house keepers, who are disgusted by having it crawl out of the squashes 
that they are preparing for the pot, or by finding slices of worm among the mel- 
ons or cucumbers that are ready to be set on the table. Cucumbers of'a size for 
pickling are often badly infested while appearing perfectly sound. 
When left to themselves the worms forsake the fruit as soon as full grown and 
enclose themselves in a frail cocoon within a crumpled leaf and change to a slen- 
der brown crysalis from which the handsome moths issue in a week or ten days. 
The moth is of an indescent golden-brown color with a large transparent spot in 
each of the front wings while the hind wings are clear except for a broad border 
of brown. The only known remedy is to search for and destroy the infested 
fruit and burn the vines in the fall. 
In conclusion | wish to call attention to two or three new insect powders which 
have been brought before the public within the last year or two. 
Professional entomologists, as a rule, are much more successful in raising in- 
sects ‘‘by hand’’ than in finding out ways and means for getting rid of them. 
But the present entomologist of the Dept. of Agriculture and the members of the 
Entomological Commission have devoted a great deal of attention to the subject 
of insecticides and the best methods of applying them, and have made some 
valuable discoveries. 
At the head of all insecticides for general use and safety must be placed the 
Pyrethrum powders called ‘‘California Buhach,”’ ‘‘Dalmatian Insect powder’’ 
or ‘Persian Insect powder.’’ It is made from the dried and ground flowers of 
various species of Pyrethrum or Feverfew, which grow in southeastern Europe 
and Asia, and have been in use for ages in those centuries as remedies for house- 
hold pests. 
The powder was also exported to some extent, and has been for many year 
offered for sale by our druggists, under the name of Persian Insect Powder. 
But besides being much adulterated, it was too expensive except for limited use. 
Some years ago a Mr. Milco, a native of Dalmatia, introduced the cultivation 
of the Pyrethrum into California, and is already supplying the market with a 
very superior article of the powder, which he calls ‘‘Buhach."’ The experiments 
of Prof. Riley and others have demonstrated its efficiency upon the cotton worm 
of the South, and upon many other destructive caterpillars. It 1s a perfect rem- 
edy for Aphidide or plant lice, of all species, and for many other green-house 
pests; and no other preparation will so speedily kill the house fly, the mosquito. 
and other gnats. 
Another new insect powder is the London Purple. This is of arsenious na- 
ture and is a deposit obtained in the manufacture of aniline dyes. It is far less 
poisonous than Paris green and equally effectual against such insects as require 
severe treatment, and at the same time is much cheaper. In applying it, it 
must be mixed in a large proportion of flour or plaster—1 part Purple to I0 or 
12 parts flour. It may also be used in liquid suspension. 
Some other remedies of more limited application might be mentioned, but I 
have already exceeded the self-imposed limits of this paper. 
