September, 1890. 
163 
£3 
OWCHRRD GARDEN 
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Conducted by F. J. Niswander, 
Agricultural College, Ingham Co, Mich. 
We shall be glad to receive from our 
readers any notes on insects pests which 
may have come under their observation 
this season, and to give such information 
regarding them as may be desired. Con- 
mumcations should be accompanied by 
specimens whenever possible. Never send 
specimens in a letter but enclose them in a 
tight box and send by mail. Enclose a 
small portion of their food if they are living 
larvae, and it is unnecessary to cut air holes 
in the box. Address all correspondence on 
insects matters and specimens to F. J. Nis- 
wander, Agricultural College P. O. Mich. 
Bugs. 
All true bugs belong to the order of insects 
known as Hemiptera. The name of this 
order is derived from the fact that the wing 
covers or the first pair of wings are thick- 
ened only at their bases while the remain- 
der is of a membranous character. To this 
order belong many insects which are very 
damaging to the farmer and fruit grower. 
Among these may be mentioned the chinch 
bug which causes so much damage to the 
western farmer, the tarnish plant bug whose 
range of food plants is very extensive, and 
the squash bug with which every gardener 
has to contend. Members of this order are 
also parasitic upon man and the lower 
animals. These insects are all furnished 
with a sharp, pointed instrument or suck- 
ing tube with which they pierce the leaves 
of plants in order to suck their juices. The 
mouth parts are drawn out into lance-shap- 
ed organs which are admirably adapted to 
their purpose. 
The squash bug., (Fig 11 Anasa tristis, 
De Geer, is perhaps one of the most formid- 
able pests the gardener has to contend 
agamst. The injury it does is well known. 
Early in the spring as soon as 
warm weather commences 
the squash bug makes its ap- 
pearance from beneath 
boards and other material 
which have served as places 
of concealment during the 
winter. As soon as the 
leaves of the squash vine make their ap- 
pearance above the ground the bugs pair 
and soon after the female deposits her eggs 
in groups and patches upon the leaves of 
the plant. During the night the bugs secrete 
themselves beneath clods of dirt and other 
debris which may be present. They are 
very difficult to distinguish from the earth 
as they resemble it very closely in color. 
The eggs are round and somewhat flattened 
upon two sides and are fastened to the 
leaves by a sticky, gummy substance. 
Within a few days the eggs hatch and the 
young bugs make their appearance. At 
first the head, legs and antennae are of a 
yellowish color but soon change to black. 
They feed at first in small groups but soon 
separate as they become older. With their 
sharp beaks they puncture the leaves to 
suck the sap and in consequence of the 
numerous punctures the lea ves wither and 
finally become brown and dry. 
After obtaining their full growth, which 
is during the months of September and, 
October, the bugs secrete themselves for the 
winter. At this time they are about three 
fifths of an inch long and from a yellowish- 
brown to an almost black color above. 
Beneath they are somewhat lighter being 
of an ochre-yellow color. When the bugs 
are handled, or if crushed, they emit a 
powerful, pungent odor from which they 
derive the name “stink bug.” 
From their suctorial habits it is very dif- 
ficult to find an artificial remedy that will 
prove satisfactory. From experiments car- 
ried on at this station under the direction 
of Prof. A. J. Cook it seems as though a 
practical remedy had at last been found. 
Vines, on which the bugs were quite num- 
erous, were sprayed with the kerosene 
emulsion using one-sixth kerosene, three 
and one half gallons of water, and one- 
fourth pound of soap. Up to date this has 
given excellent results and has been satis- 
factory in greatly lessening the pest. The 
ordinary kerosene emulsion using only one- 
fifteenth kerosene, has been effective in des- 
troying the eggs when sprayed upon them. 
A remedy that has been in use for some 
time is that of trapping. Boards are placed 
among the vines and the bugs congregate 
beneath them during the night. Early in 
the morning before sun-up they must be 
collected and destroyed either by crushing 
or burning. 
m 
Fig. 2. 
The Pear Slug. 
This season has been an unusually good 
one for the pear slug, Selandria cerasi. 
Peck, and an unfortunate one for the fruit 
grower. This insect (Fig 2) is a hymen- 
opteron or four winged fly. From the 
first of May to the first of June the flies 
were very common in the pear, cherry, and 
quince orchards. The 
female fly is nearly one- 
fourth of an inch long 
and is furnished with a 
saw-like piece of appa- 
ratus in the back part of the abdomen, by 
means of which she makes a groove where- 
in to deposit her eggs. After the eggs hatch 
the young larvae (Fig 3) eat the upper side 
of the leaves, leaving only the framework 
and the outside membrane on the under- 
side. When in great numbers, as they 
were during the present season, the trees 
have the appearance of being burned. 
About the last of June the larvae pupate 
and toward the first of August the mature 
flies appear and after pairing deposit their 
eggs for the second brood. Through the 
month of August and during the first weeks 
of September the larvae are actively at 
work. The anterior or head end of the 
larvae (Fig 3) is much larger than the pos- 
terior. They secrete a slimy, sticky sub- 
stance which surrounds them and probably 
serves as a means of protection against birds 
and insect foes. 
After obtaining their full growth they go 
into the pupa state in which condition they 
fig. 3. 
pass the winter. Hellebore, if mixed with 
water in the proportion of an ounce to two 
gallons and then thoroughly applied by 
means of a spraying apparatus, will be ef- 
fective in destroying the larval form. This 
is also an excellent remedy for the rose 
slug. Pyrethrum or California buhach 
when mixed with water is also an excellent 
remedy. Ashes, road dust, and lime, thrown 
into the trees will materially decrease the 
pest. Lime especially is to be recommend- 
ed as its caustic properties materially add 
to its effectiveness. 
— 
House Flies. 
Prof A. J. Cook in the New York Weekly 
Tribune for July 30th says: “If wire-gauze 
window screens are hinged at the top so as 
to readily swing outward, it is very easy 
to drive the flies out of the window of a 
darkened room. With such screens sup- 
plemented by an occasional use of fresh and 
good insect power (buhach or California 
pyrethrum ) it is not difficult to keep the 
house almost entirely free of these pests. 
The only possible objection to the powder is 
that if much be used it leaves a fine dust on 
the furniture and about the rooom; this 
however, is certainly a minor disadvan- 
tage.” I may add to this by saying that if 
the powder is used the rooms should be 
darkened with one exception. The flies 
will congregate in this room. In the even- 
ing throw some of the powder in, as a dust, 
and close the room tightly. In the morn- 
ing when the husband builds the fire, as all 
true husbands do, he should sweep up the 
flies and burn them or they will revive and 
be as great a nuisance as ever. 
A Remedy for Cabbage Worms. 
Insect Life credits Mr. A. S. Fuller with 
the following treatment as a means of de- 
terring the Cabbage Worm: 
Two quar<s of coal-tar are put into an 
open vessel, which is set in the bottom of a 
barrel, and the barrel is filled with water. 
In forty-eight hours the water is impreg- 
nated with the odor of tar, although tar 
is not dissolved in it. The water is then 
sprinkled abundantly on the cabbages, and 
the odor penetrates every portion of the 
head, killing or driving away the worms. 
As the water evaporates, no stain or odor 
remains on the cabbage. The same quantity 
of coal-tar can be made to impregnate sev- 
eral successive barrels of water. 
