of
Muscatine County Iowa
1879
| History of Muscatine County Iowa 1879 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Historical Section, 1879, pages 334-338
ENTOMOLOGY. Aside from its scientific phase, the study of the insect-life of this region is one which is of great importance. The subject possesses limitless shades of interest to the careful observer, and is worthy of patient research. The Misses Walton, of Muscatine, have made a special study of this branch of science, and already have preserved a fine cabinet of specimens. Miss Alice B. Walton contributes to this volume the following paper relative to the entomology of Muscatine County, and, indirectly, that of the State:
"The study of the entomology of Iowa has been more neglected than that of any other department of its natural history. Hardly any data of the appearance or disappearance of its destructive and beneficial insects have been preserved, or, of what are known to science as 'insect years'; that is, seasons in which insects are the most abundant. These generally follow severe winters, with continuous cold weather, and also dry, warm springs, while a mild winter, or a cold, rainy spring, is as injurious to insect-life as it is to vegetation. The winter of 1875-76 was an open one, and, during the summer of 1876, insects were, comparatively speaking, scarce. The winter of 1876-77 was cold, and the following summer was a good one for insect collectors. The winter of 1877-78 was one of the mildest on record, and, during the whole of the season, swarms of mosquitoes could be seen, on every warm day, flying along the edges of timber-land. Even small Lepidoptera were occasionally captured during the months of December and January. The succession of a number of very mild days would cause insects to be wholly or partially aroused from their torpidity, and the sudden changes of temperature would kill them. The next summer proved no exception to the general rule, and cabinets received but few valuable additions.
"The advent of new destructive species of insects, the amount of damage they are capable of and the present outlook as to the permanency or final extinction of such pests, form an interesting topic for general readers.
"'Destructive insects' are usually those which live upon vegetation, and are, as by a law of compensation, subject to depredation from so-called 'cannibal insects.' The cannibals may be distinguished from the vegetable-feeders by the fact that the former are swift and rapid in their movements, while the latter move with a slow and sluggish motion. Every true insect passes through four stages in the course of its lifetime. First, the egg; second, the larva, which is the grub, maggot or caterpillar state; third, the pupa, during which most insects are torpid and incapable of eating, and fourth, the image, or perfect-winged state. Among the destructive insects, the chinch-bug (Rhyparochromus leucopterus, Say) first made its appearance in this county in 1844, when it produced in the wheat what was known among the early settlers as 'spot.' These 'spots' were from one foot to several rods in diameter in the fields of standing grain. A few days before the wheat was ripe, it would turn white and become blighted. On examination, the cause proved to be this bug, the worst foe with which the Western grain-grower contends. Its ravages have been severe. It did the most damage from about 1850 to 1865, and, during these fifteen years, fully one-third of the wheat crops in this section of Iowa were lost. For the past few years, however, it has troubled the small grain but little. The corn never suffered as much from its depredations as the wheat. But, happily, the chinch-bug has several insect-foes, prominent among which are two species of a small beetle called in common parlance lady-bug or lady-bird. The spotted lady-bug (Hippodamia maculata, De Geer) is red, spotted with black, and the trim lady-bug ( Coccinella munda, Say) is rather light yellow. Both of these are found in this county, and probably several smaller species also thrive here. All of these should be respected and protected by every one, as they are almost universally found among the antagonists of destructive insects.
" The locust borer ( Clytus robinice, Forrester) was first observed as causing damage to the locust-trees, sometime about the year 1850. It is a black beetle, gayly barred and marked with yellow. It is about an inch long, and may be found during the month of September, on the trunks of the locust or among the blossoms of the golden-rod. The boring of the larvae in the locust trunks has completely abolished the cultivation of that tree in this county.
" In the years 1864 and 1865, there appeared a most unwelcome visitor, the Colorado potato-bug (Doryphora decemlineata, Say), and immediately every inventive genius turned his faculties toward discovering a method for its subjugation.
" Many a boy has spent the summer mornings with a tin pan in one hand and a stick in the other, going from hill to hill, 'bugging' the potatoes, knocking the bugs into the pan, and burning or scalding them. Finally, a mixture of twelve parts of flour to one of Paris green, sprinkled on the vines in the morning, in the dew, proved the most effective manner of warfare.
" For the first two or three years after their appearance, many of the potato- fields were entirely devastated. Not only the potatoes were eaten, but also every weed that grew among them. Now, however, man and the natural insect- enemies, of which more than a score can be named (among them the lady-bug), seem to have gained the supremacy, and the damage done at present is little or nothing compared to what it was ten years ago. It may entirely disappear from this locality, but, in all probability, there will always be a few survivors found here.
" In 1875, the maple-tree louse (Lecanium acericola) first infested the maple- trees at Muscatine, in numbers sufficient to injure them. Previous to that time, the maple had been extensively used as a shade-tree, but subsequently the insect has destroyed more than three-fourths of those trees in the city, and the tree is no longer cultivated for its shade. Elms have been generally substituted. The louse appeared around Davenport as early as 1868, and even now is not found in the country around Muscatine, but is confined to the city. This insect has at least one known enemy, our little friend the lady-bug.
" A small plant-louse (Phylloxera vitifolice, Fitch) attacks several varieties of grapes. As yet, no practical damage has been reported from this cause, although it seems to be acquiring a greater range in the variety of its food. It is a native insect, indigenous with the wild frost grape. Among the tame varieties of grapes, it prefers the Clinton, Delaware and a small white hybrid. Last season, it was observed on the Isabel. This is the same Phylloxera which causes so much trouble in Southern France, It was imported into France from America.
" The cut-worms are the larvae of a nocturnal genus ( Agrotis) of Lepidoptera. Quite a number of species of this genius are to be found in this county. A new species, working in the corn, was reported last summer.
" Every seventeen years, we are visited by what are commonly miscalled 'locusts' ( Cicada septendecim, Linn.). This insect appeared here in 1837, 1854, 1871, and will appear in 1888. They are not found on the prairie, but are in the timber-lands. The early settlers claim that the brood of 1837 was larger than any subsequent one. The clearing of the timber-land may be the cause of their decrease. Of their habits, Walsh remarks that more has probably been written concerning them than of any other insect.
" The white grubs first began to seriously damage meadow-lands about 1870. They are the larvae of the May beetle (Lachnosterna quercina, Knoch).
" There are many other destructive insects found in this locality, but these are the principal species. A large number of useful and beneficial insects can be taken here, but blessings are often passed unheeded, and many of these, at present, remain in oblivion. They are, for the most part, small parasites, and the classes of insects known as cannibals. Their habits and history have not received the study and attention which have been given to their more unworthy relatives.
" Of the sub-orders of insects, the Coleoptera, or beetles, and the Lepidoptera, or scale-winged insects, such as butterflies and moths, have been studied here more thoroughly than the remaining five.
" It may be interesting to state a few facts and call attention to some of the common species of the winged beauties. For the sake of convenience, Lepidoptera have been divided into three large groups called Diurnal, Crepuscular and Nocturnal. The Diurnal are the butterflies, which belong to the daytime. The Crepuscular are the sphinges and twilight fliers. The Nocturnal are the moths which fly at night. Part of the moths and sphinges fly in the daytime. So that this classification is not, strictly speaking, technical, but merely, as before stated, for convenience.
" Among the most common Diurnals we have the small, yellow butterfly ( Colias philodice, Godart) familiar to every one; the white butterfly (Pieris protodice, B. and L.), the imago of the cabbage-worm which is quite injurious to that crop; the Danias archippus, Harr., that large brown and black butterfly which is seen in its beauty and perfection in the fall, when it migrates southward, often in great numbers. These three are the most numerous.
The very large magnificent yellow, marked with black, butterfly, commonly called the yellow swallowtail, is Papilio turnus, Linn. It expands from three to four inches, and is seen in June and July, flying through woods and orchards and hovering about lilacs. We have several other species of Papilio, black marked with different colors, which are not easily distinguishable on the wing.
" The Vanesea antiopa, Linn., is also rather common in this county. It expands from two and one-half to three mches. Its wings are purplish brown above with a yellow border, just inside of which is a row of blue spots. This insect has a great taste for rotten apples.
" The Crepuscular--the Sphinges--are those large, narrow-winged, heavy- bodied, Lepidoptera that hover over flowers in the twilight, extracting the honey through their long maxillae or 'tongues,' which are hollow like a tube, and in some species is four inches long. It is common to hear these insects called 'evening humming-birds,' from the resemblance of the motion of their wings to that of the humming-bird. But they are not birds, they are Sphinges. Some of the handsomest of these are the imagoes of the tobacco and tomato worms.
" The common or the marked Nocturnals are difficult to point out, because of their nocturnal habits. There are five found here which are large and handsome. Telea polyphemus, Linn., is a very light brown. On each secondary or hind wing, is a blue, black, and yellow eyelike spot with a transparent pupil. On each primary or front wing, is also found another transparent spot edged with yellow. It expands about five inches, and its larvae feed on the oak. Samia cecropia, Linn., is the largest insect we have. Two specimens in our collection, which were hatched from cocoons, measure six and three-quarters and nearly seven inches, respectively. The average expansion is about six inches. Its colors are gray-brown, dull red, black and white. A wavy, white line crosses each wing, and also near the center of each is a large white spot. Near the tip of each primary is an eye-like spot. The body is dull red, striped with white.
" Saturnia Io, Harr., and Callosamia promethea, Drury, are both found here, though quite rare. Saturnia Io is light brown. Expands two inches and has a large eye-like spot on each secondary. Callosamia promethea expands about three inches. The male is dark bluish brown. The female has a very light reddish brown tint.
" The Actias luna, Linn., is a pale-green moth. It expands about four inches. It has a transparent eye-spot in the center of each wing, and the two secondaries are each prolonged into a tail, which gives it a peculiar appearance. Perfect specimens are hard to obtain. These five are not the most common, but the largest. The great majority of the Nocturnals are small, some of them expanding less than half an inch.
" In giving an account of our local Entomology, only a few points can be dwelt upon. There are many other interesting facts that could be enumerated but of necessity must be omitted. In order to give some idea of the Lepidoptera that can be found here, the following, though imperfect, list is given. It does not, in all probability, contain one-half which could be collected in this county.
" Rhopalocera.---Papilio philenor Linn.; Papilio asterias Drury; Papiliotroilus Linn.; Papilio turnus Linn.; Papilio var. glaucus Linn.; Papiliocresphontes Cram.; Pieris protodice Boisd. & Lec.; Colias caesonia Stoll.; Colias eurytheme Boisd.; Colias keewaydin Edw.; Colias philodice Godart; Terias lisa Boisd.; Danais archippus Oram.; Argynnis idalia Drury; Argynnis cybele Fabr.; Argynnis aphrodite Fabr.; Argynnis myrina Cram.; Argynnis ------.; Phyciodes tharos Boisd.; Grapta faunus Edw.; Grapta interrogationis var. Fabricii Edw.; Grapta interrogationis var. umbrosa Lint.; Grapta progne Cram; Grapta comma Harris; Vanessa antiopa Linn.; Pyrameis cardui Linn.; Pyrameis hunteria Drury; Pyrameis atalanta Linn.; Junonia lavinia. Cram.; Limenitis ursula Fabr.; Limenitis misipus Fabr.; Apatura celtis Boisd.; Euptychia eurytus Fabr.; Chrysophanus hyllus Cram.; Lycaena neglecta Edw.; Lycaena pseudargiolus Boisd.; Lycaena comyntas Godt.; Epargyreus tityrus Fabr.; Thorybes pylades Scudd.; Hesperia hobomok Harr.; Hesperia vialis Edw.; Hesperia numitor Fabr.; Hesperia tessellata Scudd.; Hesperia -------.
" Sphingidoe.---Macroglossa diffinis Boisd.; Macroglossa thysbe Fabr.; Thyreus abbotii Swain; Thyreus nessus Cram.; Darapsa myron Cram.; Chaerocampa tersa Linn.; Deilephila lineata Fabr.; Philampelus pandorus Hubn.; Philampelus achemon Drury; Smerinthus geminatus Say; Macrosila carolina Linn.; Macrosila .quinquemaculata Haw.; Sphinx cinerea Harr.; Sphinx gordius Cram.; Ceratomia amyntor Hubn.
" Zygoenidoe.---Eudryus unio Hubn.; Eudryus grata Fabr.; Scepsis fulvicollis Hubn.
" Bombycidoe.---Hyproprepia fucosa Hubn.; Utethesia bella Linn.; Callimorpha lecontei Boisd.; Arctia nais Drury; Arctia decorata Saunders; Arctia persephone Grote; Arctia arge Drury; Pyrrharetia issabella Smith; Leucarctia acrea Drury; Spilosoma virginica Fabr.; Spilosoma latipennis Stretch.; Euchaetes egle Drury; Nerice bidentata Walk.; Telea polyphemus Linn.; Actias luna Linn.; Samia cecropia Linn.; Clisocampa americana Harr.; Xyleutes robiniae Peck.
" Noctuidoe.---Acronycta oblinita Smith; Microcoelia obliterata Grote; Jaspidea lepidula Grote; Agrotis c-nigrum Linn.; Agrotis subgothica Hew.; Agrotis messoria Harr.; Agrotis clandestina Harr.; Mamestra adjuncta Guen.; Mamestra subjuncta Grote; Mamestra renigera Stephens; Perigea xanthioides Guen.; Dipterygia pinastri Linn.; Hyppa xylinoides Guen.; Hydroecia nictitans Linn.; Gortyna rutila Guen.; Arzama obliquata G. & R.; Heliophila pallens Hubn.; Heliophila pseudargyria Grote; Pyrophila pyramidoides Grote; Pluisa aerea Hubn.; Plusia balluca Geyer; Plusia simplex Guen.; Chamyris cerintha Treits.; Erastria carneola Guen.; Erastria nigritula Guen.; Drasteria erechtea Cram.; Euclidia cuspidea Hubn.; Catocala meskei Grote; Catocala ultronia Guen.; Catocala neoparta Guen.; Catocala innubens Guen.; Catocala neogama Guen.; Catocala paleogama var. phalanga Guen.; Homoptera lunata Drury; Pseudoglossa lubricalis Geyer; Plathypena scabra Fabr.
" Geometridoe.---Petrophora diversilineata Hubn.; Eutrapela transversata Drury; Heterophelps triguttata Her. Sch.; Haematopis grataria Fabr.; Acidalia enucleata Guen.; Angerona crocataria Fabr.; Endropia effectaria Walk.; Endropia marginata Pack.
" Pyralidoe.---Botys verticalis Albin.; Desmia maculalis West.
" Tortricidoe.---Argyrolepia quercifoliana Fitch.
" Pterophoridoe.---Pterophorus periscelidactylus Fitch."
Back to Historical Index Page