COMBATTING PESTS BY NATURAL ENEMIES.

Hot Lakes Chronicle, Volume 2, Issue 127, 26 June 1895, Page 4

COMBATTING PESTS BY NATURAL ENEMIES.

It is probable that the 'natural enemy ' principle of destruction will be extended to many of the worst of the farmer's insect pestsi The Hessian fly appears to have practically disappeared before its enemy, and we may hope that the destructive grass grub—which is equally destructive to wheat—will soon meet a similar fate. Entomologists attached to experimental stations in America are giving great attention to the application of their science in this direction, and with every prospect of success. Mr Lawrence Bruner, of the Lincoln (Nebraska) station, confirms the discovery made last year at the Kansas station, of an enemy to the ' chinch bug,' a very serious pest to wheat fields. The enemy is in this instance a fungus, Sporotrichum globuliforum, and the method of its application is as follows :—Dry bugs which have been dead for years are jußt as infections of living bugs as are the Jive bugs which have just contracted the dicea-e. A few infected bugs (either living or dead and dry) are placed in a large wire gauze cage along with a considerable number of healthy bugs, supplied with suitable food, which consists of wheat plants. About the second or third day the whole of the bugs show signs of infection, und half or more of these are scattered about the bug-infested field, whilst a pint or more of fresh healthy bugs are collectcd and put into the cage with the sick ones left there. The army of infected bugs is thus increased to any extent required, and as fast as possible they are scattered over the fields. These infected insects are too sick to feed, but run about amongst their hralthy fellows and communicate the disease to them. Tho more healthy bugs in number there are on the field the more quickly is the disease spread, and within a short time there is no more trouble from the pest. The farmer then looks carefully after the dead bugs, collects a quart or two, dries them in the shade, and puts them away in a very dry plare for future use if the chinch bug should again infest his crops. The popular name of the Sporotrichum is ' white fungus,' and it looks like the down upon the mealy bug.