INSECT PESTS OF THE ORCHARD AND GARDEN 49 



placed in single file and marched from Boston they would reach 

 around the world twice and as far as China on the third lap. 



If one pair of robins to a farm in the state of Maine alone could 

 accomplish this feat, what might we expect of the great army of 

 other varieties of birds that are eciually voracious. Of our other 

 friends perhaps the toad plays the most important role. The 

 Ohio Experiment Station Bulletin states that a single garden 

 toad during the months of May, June, and July consumes 9,720 

 injurious insects; including such species as cutworms, weevils, 

 ground beetles, etc. English and French gardeners pay $25.00 

 per hundred for them. Skunks, moles, and even snakes play an 

 important part in insect control. 



Ath, Know our Beneficial Insects. We need to know our friends 

 as well as our foes. Our friends are found among the parasites; 

 predaceous bugs and beetles; Tachanid flies; scavengers, etc. The 

 extensive work done by the Federal Government in conjunction 

 with the state at the insectary at Melrose Highlands is recognized 

 by all students of entomology. 



5th, Learn the Life Histories of Our Insect Pests. This is quite 

 an undertaking but is highly important and very essential to 

 success. The outline of the different stages in the life history of 

 many of our injurious insects has already been given. With this 

 as a guide one can learn to recognize the leading ones found in 

 the garden and orchard. 



Qth, Destroy All Refuse Material Where Insects Hibernate. We 

 are beginning to realize the importance of this statement. Quite 

 a percent of our garden and orchard pests pass the hibernating 

 period under cover of stones, pieces of boards, refuse piles of weeds, 

 discarded vines, brush heaps, bark of trees, etc. Habit is one of 

 the leading factors in the success or failure of an undertaking; 

 therefore let us get into the habit of keeping things of this class 

 picked up and destroyed. No refuse should be allowed to remain 

 but should be gathered and disposed of by burning. A good 

 convenient, out of the way place should be provided and all material 

 of this nature carted there and destroyed. This method will not 

 only tend to control insect pests, but many of the fungous diseases 

 as well. 



One fruitful source of insect increase is found among the weeds 



