50 



are of course familiar with the habits of this bug as published in Riley's Second 

 Missouri Report, pages 113 and 114, and in Forbes' report as State entomologist of 

 Illinois for 1883, and in Professor Riley's report as Entomologist to this Department 

 for 1884, pages 312 to 315. Kerosene emulsion will be the most effective remedy 

 against it. * * * —[April 24, 1889.] 



Walshia amorphelia and the Loco Weed. 



By to-day's mail I send you a small tin box containing a piece of the Loco Weed 

 or Crazy Plant. You will observe that there are worms or grubs in the roots and 

 stems. From observations made by myself and a fellow stock-grower we are led to 

 believe it possible that the worms, eaten by stock, produce the craziness and some- 

 times death, instead of the plant, as is generally supposed. Upon opening animals we 

 always find many worms. An insect lays the egg upon the plant, and the worm, when 

 hatched, descends into the root. The insect is longish and bronze winged. We desire 

 information as to whether our theory be a plausible one or no. If we are right in 

 our conclusions, we hope to find some remedy. Anything you may be able to suggest 

 or knowledge you may he pleased to impart will be very gratifying to us. — [Thomas 

 J. Quillian, Birmingham, Huerfano County, Colo., April 9, 1889. 



Reply. — I beg to acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 9th instant, together 

 with the box containing a piece of the Loco Weed, supposed to he infested by grubs 

 in the roots and stems. On arrival at Washington the work done by the grubs was 

 evident, but not a specimen of the grub itself was to be found. However, we have 

 received what is probably the same thing on several occasions from your State, and 

 the sender has always been under the same impression, that the worms were the cause 

 of the peculiar effect upon live stock. The maggots are harmless larvse of a little 

 moth known as Walshia amorphelia, which occurs also in other allied plants, boring 

 into the roots and stems. It has long since been decided that the peculiar effect of 

 Loco Weed upon stock is due to some peculiar virtue of the plant itself, which I 

 believe can not be ascertained by chemical analysis. Post-mortem examinations of 

 diseased cattle and chemical examinations of the plant itself have been made by Dr. 

 L. E. Sayer, dean of the department of pharmacy of the Kansas State University, 

 from whom you might be able to ascertain something of value regarding treatment. 

 In an article published in 1887 in the Drug Record concerning a post-mortem, he shows 

 that the disease was one of the mucous and serous membranes, and recommends the 

 following treatment : 



" Pul. ext. belladonna grs. x. 



Corrosive sublimate gr. j . to gr. jss. 



Licorice ^j . 



Glycerine q. s. 



" Mix. Make a thin paste and give a tablespoonful. The belladonna and mercury 

 may be increased according to the severity of the symptoms. Opium, combined with 

 belladonna, might be advantageous at the beginning of the disease. Mild and non- 

 irritating articles of food only should be given, such as oil-cake, etc."— [April 19, 

 1889.] 



