INSECT PESTS OF THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN 47 



It is during this stage that the growth of the insect is made and 

 it must necessarily, in the majority of cases, cover a large percent 

 of its life-cycle. 



This being the case we can readily see how important it is that 

 we learn to recognize this stage of our common insect pests, so 

 as to more successfully control their depredations. 



We will next consider them in relation to their food habits, 

 dividing them into the following groups, viz : (a) sucking insects 

 (true bugs, plant lice, scale insects, etc.) ; (b) leaf -eating insects 

 (tent caterpillar, brown-tail, gypsy etc.); (c) root feeders (wire 

 worms, June beetles). 



Knowing the food habits of an insect we can the more readily 

 apply the remedy. Those under (a) must be handled by means 

 of a contact spray such as kerosene emulsion, whale oil solution, 

 tobacco decoction, and in the case of scale, lime-sulphur solution. 

 By contact spray we mean that the liquid must be forced on to the 

 insect itself so as to come in contact with the breathing pores. 

 In many cases this is quite difficult on account of the curling of 

 the leaves, especially in the case of so many species of aphis or 

 plant lice. 



(b) Leaf eating insects are more easily kept under control for 

 several reasons. In the first place they are more exposed to the 

 attack of predatory and parasitic insects, birds, and diseases. In 

 the second place their food plant can be sprayed with some poison- 

 ous solution like lead arsenic, Paris green, etc. 



The two remaining classes (c) and (d) are among the hardest to 

 subdue — they are more protected. They have not as many 

 enemies. It is a hand to hand fight either by mechanical means 

 or by the use of poison baits. 



We now come to a consideration of the outline previously sug- 

 gested — 



1st, Practice Clean Culture. This is the most important step 

 in the control of insect pests. The practice must be carefully 

 adhered to year after year. Under this head the weed problem 

 deserves a passing notice. Many species of weeds offer good 

 feeding ground for some of our insect enemies. In many cases 

 there are other causes at work. The old saying regarding the 

 number of kernels of corn to the hill is an apt one: 



