Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989, June 29, 1934, Image 7

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Medford mail tribune., June 29, 1934, Page 7, Image 7

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Newspaper Page TextJFEDFORD 5IATL' TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, CREGOX. FRIDAY, JTTSE 29, 1934. PXGE SEVEN ( ! Y f DRIVE ON EARWIGS ADVOCATED BEFORE PESTS TAKE TOWN Situation Growing Worse As Unorganized Battle Fails to Check Increase Parasite Fly Best Foe (By Bill Cummtngs) How serious la the earwig situa tion in Med ford and vicinity? Thla Is the question the average citizen asks himself when confronted with the pleadings of those who are In fested by the troublesome creatures, or the suggestions of neighbors that a campaign be put on to rid the community of the pest that Is evi dently returning throughout all southern Oregon after a long period of recurrent activity. For the past five years this Insect has been making Itself an undesir able guest In the homes and yards of local citizens, Increasing in num ber, and coming to the front In peri odical plagues that rouse the deter mination of the unlucky residents whose homes are Infested to drive the earwig out of the city before it drives them out. So far, however, only a few have taken it upon them selves to do battle In any concen trated form on the pesky intruder. They Have Wings The earwigs form a distinct order of Insects under the name "Dermap tera." They range from five-eighths of an Inch to considerably longer, are dark-reddish brown in color, with antennae and callper-llke forceps. Their wings are a striking feature which Is seldom noticed, as they are usually folded tightly under a pro tective shell, and used lor flight only on rare occasions. The name Is descended from the Anglo-Saxon word "earwicga," which means "ear creature" literally. In nearly all European languages the name has the same significance, which suggests an old superstition that the earwig crawls Into the cars of sleeping person, but fact la not known to substantiate this Idea. Some four hundred species of the Insect have been described, but most of them Inhabit warm or tropical countries. Fifteen species are known to inhabit the United States, only two of which are found In Oregon. These are the European earwig and the little earwig (Labia minor, or lilnne), which varieties can be read ily distinguished from each other by the difference In size. Came In 1009 Records show that the earwig has been found In Oregon as early as 1909. It has since spread throughout most of the state, and In the city of Portland has caused much con sternation. Earwigs are carried from place to place In any article that offers a dark, narrow hideout, and are easily spread by those who travel into unaffected regions from Infested areas. The earwig la In no way harmful or poisonous to humans, but ia de structive to any material which may be termed edible, and la chiefly in jurious to foliage of common plants, Among those subject to the severest Injury are bean, potato, beet, cab bage, cauliflower, pea, dahlia, zinnia, sweet William and fig. The Injury generally consists of small, Irregular holes in the leaves, and oftentimes a tender leaf or stalk will be entirely destroyed. Earwigs will usually be found hiding In the ground about the plant upon which they have fed. Swarm at Night They conceal themselves In or about houses, under boards and rub blah plies, under the bark of trees and In crevices during the day, but at night they swarm over porches and make their way Indoors to de posit themselves sometimes by the handful under rugs, in laundry and kitchen cupboards. On their nightly naraudlngs they have a tendency to limb on buildings, stones, tree trunks and fences. In Med ford and vicinity the Infes tations of a general nature, but is snore pronounced In certain neigh borhoods than in others. One local resident reports that a host of ear wigs was found Inside a window sash, ad It has been said that the bugs eat their way Into wood. On Almond atreet the destruction of a cherry tree la attributed to earwigs, which swarmed into cracks In the j trunk and burrowed their way un derneath the bark. "I Live without Food j Another local citizen has been trou bled with the bugs to such an ex tent that he used a blow torch to burn them out of hiding places. A resident states that he observed four earwigs tightly corked in a glass bot tle and allowed no food. Their re markable stamina Is illustrated by the fact that after the bugs had commenced to devour each other in the third week, and two were In this way killed, the remaining two lived for a month. Methods for the control of the ear wig Include traps of various kinds. In Medford many residents have cut down the number of pests by placing crumpled newspapers in the yard at night and burning them with the collected earwigs In the morning. A flower pot half full of excelsior In verted over a stake in the ground has also been found a good collector and the bugs can be Bhaken out in the morning Into a bucket of water or oil. Several local citizens have lound that pieces of garden hose two or three feet In length scattered about the yard are good traps. Piles of rubbish which are burned usually send a swarm of earwigs scampering for better shelter, and In this way they may be killed In great numbers with scalding water. Poison Poor Plan Poison baits are also used, and de stroy numbers of the bugs when scat tered about the outside of buildings and around trees and shrubs, com merclal baits may be purchased, but are not generally considered a worth while means of control. Poison bran was used In Portland's extensive 1933 earwig campaign and figures show that the cost per block averaged $16.35 for one application. Birds as a rule are of little value In the control of eawlgs, although several local people report that Ban tam hens If allowed to roam about the yard will destroy the bugs, but the nocturnal habits of the earwigs make this means of combat unprofit able. Toads have been said to devour the Insects in great quantities, but they are almost unknown in nearly all earwig Infested areas. The newest, and so far the most Batlsfactory agent to be Introduced In earwig control Is the parasitic fly. Thla parasite Is liberated In an af fected area In the form of paracltlzed earwigs, which have been Imported Into southern Oregon from the Port land entomologist and released in colonies. The parasite develops within the earwig as & maggot, eventually kills It and then hatches Into a fly, The process Is repeated and devel oped as the files lay eggs which hatch Into more parasite larvae. Need United Effort This method of control, according to County Horticulturist L, P. Wilcox, la the most logical way to combat the local Infestation, but he states that success will only be obtained through a united community drive. The effect of the treatment Is not evident for two to four years after the fly has been Introduced, Wilcox states, as the number of parasites must exceed that of the host before any relief can be expected. Six colonies of the parasitized ear wig were liberated in Ashland a year ago, and four or five colonies have been introduced In Medford, through the co-operation of certain residents who determined to try this method, which has been tested In the labora tories In Portland and at the Oregon State college experiment station. i Prof. P. O. Relmer of the Southern Oregon Experiment Station haa re cently ordered several colonies of the ! parasitized Insects and will dlstrlb-! ute them In affected parts or the vai-i ley this summer. 1 Campaign Advocated It ta the common belief of au thorities and citizens who have made a study of the situation in thla com munity that an organized campaign Is the only possible way to combat the pest successfully, unless imme diate steps are taken it la believed that the earwig will increase In num ber until the situation will demand far greater attention than Is gener ally realized. As paved streets are natural barriers which serve to con fine the Insects to each block, It la suggested that the citizens of each such division organize campaigns for the introduction of the fly in their territory. Just as the lady bug Is used to eradicate the aphis, it is believed the parasitic fly will prove to be the community's best friend In this endeavor and the earwig's worst enemy. BEST DRILL TEAM TOVISITG.PASS The drill team of the Central Point Orange haa been Invited to take part in the program at Grants Pass on July 4. This team won first place at the state Orange meeting at Rose burg June 14. The members of the team are Or val Caster, Fred Lofland, Ivan Skyr man, Harold Smith, Harold Head, Donald Patterson, William Fisher, Al ton Whetstone, Eula Benson, Marian Blackford, Roberta, Pankey, Velma McCreedle, Kathryn Lathrop, Evelyn Hamilton, Harriett Sparrow, and Leu rlne Hugger. William Foley is captain, and Mrs. Ethel Lathrop, assistant captain. A drill practice for the team has been called for Monday, July 3 at the grange hall. LAST YEAR'S FIGURES WASHINGTON, June 39. ;p) The farm administration's agricultural economics bureau said today avail able world supplies of raw wool were smaller than at thla time last year. Reductions were largest in southern hemisphere countries. The bureau said the 1934 clip In the United States would about equal the 1933 clip, and that alight reduc tions in thla year's clip in Great Brit ain, France and Germany were In prospect. 4 Bug Battle Upset MANHATTAN, Kaa. (fl) A stretch of cool spring weather, when unlady like "ladybugs" could not prey upon the pestiferous "green bugs," Is blamed by experts at Kansas State college for the serious damage to wheat and oats crops this year. T Here's Family Health Insurance Many Doctors will tell yon that a mighty good way to protect the health of yoor family is to give them Shredded Wheat, milk, and fruit for at leastone meal every day. Shredded Wheat la ao nourishing that one single Shredded Wheat Blaoott ffltitalnn as much nourish ment aa a waols bovi of horoe oooked cereal. These hot days, it's important to remember that Shredded Wheat is easily digested. It doesn't slow you up. Shredded Wheat is whole wheat one of Nature's best foods Noth ing added, nothing taken away. It contains thecarbohydratesyouneed for energy, proteins to build tissue, the vitamins you need to resist dis ease, and bran to keep you regular. Glra your family Shredded Wheat They will feel better I It tastes good, and it's mighty eco nomical, too. CRACKERS CAUSE INCREASE IN PANTRY RAIDS I as CRM UH.wwJ,l.l,Mlmi..ii.:.f,lill.. I I Guilty). ..On two count. Flavor and flaklness I . . . That's why Sunshine Krispy Crackers make other foods taste so much better! IOOSI-WILIS SISCUIT CO. Krispy Crackers Present Toothless Songbird Descendant of Grotesque Flying Creature Ostrich Labeled Most Primitive WASHINGTON (UP) Although It was a complicated Job to trace the evolution of bird from the grotesque, toothed flying creature of 150,000.009 years ago to the toothless little song- bird of today. Dr. Alexander Wetmore, assistant secretary of the Crmlthson. lan Institution, has succeeded In clas sifying their family trees. On the basis of recent researches, Dr. Wetmore has Introduced a num ber of changes from previous bird classifications. He has divided the class Into two sub-classes, five super- orders, 34 orders, 42 sub-orders, 33 super-fsmlltes and SI families. Originally Had Teeth Complicated as the bird's famll7 JOHN, I'M TIRED, OF THIS OLD FASHIONED WAY OF TRYING TO KILL FLIES'" tree appear, the secretary pointed out, it U comparatively simple to that of the reptiles and mammal, since its evolution has been confined to narrower lines. He believes that near the end of the Cretaceous geo logical period when rep t Ilea began to vanish, all birds probably had teeth which gradually disappeared as the group entered the Tertiary period. The first great flock of ancestnvl blrda. Dr. Wetmore revealed, were the Archaeornlthes, which included such winged reptiles as the Archaeopterys and Archaeornls. Following them came the toothed birds of the New World the first true birds recognized by fragmentary fossil records. They included the Hesperornls, Hagerla and the Ichthyornls. Ostrich Family Most Primitive Representing a long advance the various creatures of the ostrich fam ily were classed as the moat primitive of living birds. Near them were placed the extinct moaa and close ahead such curious creatures as kiwis and pen guins true birds but not of the typ ical modern bird pattern. Ranked as the highest branch of bird evolution, the great sub-order of Pasftere or songbirds was placed at the top of the family tree in the class Lflc&tlon. This group Includes 50 families ranging from larks to finches snd buntings. 1 U. 8. Tree Planting Trebled WASHINGTON Tree planting tn the national forests was nearly trebled last year, the United States forest service reports. Forces of the forest service, the civilian conserva tion corps and the NRA planting crews put in trees over a total of 69. 31S acres. Bellhop 48 Years AflHBJVn.T.B, N. O. (P) Forty-eight years ago the Battery Park hotel env ployed Charley Slsney, a negro, as a bell boy and he Is still on the Job Among those he met while on duty were President Theodora Roosevelt and President Wilson. FEATURES for SATURDAY MONDAY and .TUESDAY June 30, July 2-3 Pineapple Hibiscus Brand, Crushed, for Apricot canning No. 10 can 57 YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY. RIGHT... GET 0R0NITE FLY SPRAY. IT'S FULL-STRENGTH AND REALLY KILLS" 11 STANDARD OIL 1111 lORONlTE H SPRAY ii FULL STRENGTH KILLS 'EM QUICKER MOSQUITOES FLIES ROACHES MOTHS FLEAS 'ANTS GNATS OTHER STANDARD OIL ORONITE HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS CLEANING FLUID Keeps 'em spot lessfrocks, felt bats, lingerie, carfs, suede shoes, draperies, upholstery, Non-ezploslTel FLOOR WAXES Insist on quality Standard Oro-nltaSelf-Pollsh-Infl Wai, Stand ardWaxgloPaste Wax andWaxftlo Liquid Wei. OKOMITI ! LNIN0 j FLUID IJN0 HANDY OIL Keeps alt house hold machinery running smooth. Stops squeaks! KICMUll HANDY Oil MANUMCTUaiD V STANDARD OIL COMPAW OF CALIFORNIA Grapefruit Del Monte Whole Section No. 2 Can 2 cans 27 A Potato Chips Blue Bell Brand 100 Package 2 Pks- 1 5C FLOUR Crater Lake, Onaranteefl Hard Wheat A Southern Oregon Product 49lb.sack$1 73 Picnic Supplies Cups, Spoons, Forks Plates and Nnpklns Package 1 Qc CHEESE Brookfleld, Full Cream Pound 1 3' Annabelle's Apricot Conserve Has a fascinating flavor. 3 organges almonds S' apricot kernels S pounds apricots 1 pound blanched S pounds sugar Peel orsnges, cover peeling with cold water, bring to boll and cook 4 min utes. Repeat twice, discarding water each time. Remove all white pulp. Put all Ingredient through food chopper, sdd sugar, cook slowly 1 hour or until desired consistency. Pour Into sterilised jars or glasses. Seal with paraffin. For aid In household problems, menu plsnnlng, or special recipes, send In your request to Julia Lee Wright, director, Homemskers' Buresu, Bsfe way Stores, Inc., Box 680, Oaklsnd, California. Corned Beef Brftnd "J Qc MPflt SrifPSli Brand, for sand- f O mCtUOpiCdU wichjg. No. j4 can. 3 cans JC 10 10 Mustard Olives Lobby's, Picnic Size. 9 or. jar. Each Libby's Green Stuffed. 4 oz. bottle Queen Olives, 9 Vienna Sausage Libby's No. y Can. 2 Cans Lunch Tongues Libby 8 sdcse Sliced Beef Veal Loaf Pickles Libby's Vi os. jar. Each Libby's. No. y2 Can Libby's Whole Sweets. Pint Jar Quart Jar, 33 15 17c 12c 13c 23c SUGAR Mayonnaise Pure Oane. Save the Tax. Limit 100 lb. Sack Best Foods. Quart Jar $483 29 FRUITS and VEGETABLES For canning Fancy Fruit. Apricots Watermelons SOu Tomatoes ;sdFfarr 20 lb. box Lettuce Lemons Bananas New Potatoes Large Solid Heads. Sunkist, Best Quality. . 360 size. Dozen Fancy Golden Fruit. Local Grown 10 lbs. 89 Lb. 2 4 Lbs. 1 S 5 23 5 17. Each Store No. 471 Main and Holly Store No. 41 113 No. Central Peanut Butter h Maximum Fresh Ground In Bulk 2 lbs. 1 9c C Pork & Beans Van Camps For the Picnic 27oz.can 10 MILK 4 cans 23 Maximum quality Tall Cans Tomatoes Day Fuck Whole Solid Tomatoes No.2i2canl Qc Fruit Jars Ball and Kerr Maso Kegnlnr Mouth Dozen 95 SOAP wi Bar Sot 3 bars 1 9c White King Bar Soap for Laundry C T C C C C c Nucoa For Cooklnf 10 pound - la&C Postum Cereal A Healthful Drink. Q rockare - 1 17 C Cigarettes Camels. d O Carton J 1 s I O Tissue Waldorf, Nationally 1 T known, 4 rolls 1 I C White Kingr Granulated Soap, 07f Larja package tilC Certo For best results tn preserrlnf and jelly Disking, AQ S bottles - s7 C Eastern Sugar Cured BACON . . ib. 1 9 Swift's Sugar Cured PICNICS . ib. 1 6' Choice Steer Beef POT ROAST lb. 1 1 PORK SAUSAGE . 2 lbs. 25c Store No. 471, Main and Holly eastern ougar uurea jm BACK BACON . . . . Ib. IUC IblQc Milk Fed VEAL STEAK ... rare Home Rendered f LARD O lbs. DUC Ground Round Steak 2 lbs. 25 Store No. 41, 113 North Central - 1 n 2"