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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1978)
Page 6 THE BATTALION WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 1978 Tumbleweeds get new enemies United Press International RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Tumbling tumbleweeds, the rolling shrubs that add a touch of color to western movies, have become such a nui sance that scientists are adding two new insects to this continent in hopes of controlling them. Dr. Dick Goeden of University of California at Riverside is doing some delicate tinkering with nature, but he says insects may someday replace tractors and herbicides in control ling plant pests. The tumbleweed, or Russian this tle, grows across a wide band of southeastern Russia and western Siberia but seldom does it grow as large as it does in the United States. Tumbleweed seed came into South Dakota in shipments of flax seed in the early 1870s. By the latter part of that century it was reported as a pest in states and 13 Canadian provinces. The control project was started by the Department of Agriculture biological control laboratory in Al bany, Calif. The bugs were shipped to Goeden who began efforts to es tablish colonies. Goeden, an entomologist in the still unusual field of biological weed control, says it is a science for pa tient people. “The rule of thumb is, that it’s a seven-to-10 year period between saying let s go to work on a weed and the effective abolishment of in sect predators and parasites,’ he said. Scientists found the two insects — the stem-borer and the leaf- miner — in Pakistan. The bugs were tested there and then transferred here. Now the stem-borer is re garded as “established here, mean ing it has survived for at least three generations. The leaf-miner was only recently colonized. But the stem-borer is al ready at work chomping into tumbleweeds in select locations in Southern California, Arizona, Idaho and Nevada. Part of the long process involves two or three years of tests in the bugs’ native land to make sure they will not attack useful plants. Dr. Lloyd Andres of the US DA said it was determined first that the two in sects would not attack sugar beets and spinach, close cousins of the tumbleweed. He said that the stem-borer will attack only tumbleweed and a poisonous weed native to the Great Basin which, he said, is a desirable spin-off. The tumbleweed propagates itself as it rolls along, driven by the wind. Its round shape once it separates from its root system helps it spread seed far and wide. The Russian version is less apt to tumble. It’s much smaller and scraggly. “A recent group of Russian scien tists visiting UCR were amazed at the size of our tumbleweeds, Goeden said. “In Russia, where the thistle has several natural enemies feeding on it, it may have a shortened stem with only four or five branches and stand a foot or so tall. Our Western version will get to two or three feet in diameter. The California Department of Transportation spends $1.5 million on tumbleweed control and cleanup every year. Farmers and property owners spend many millions clear ing tumbleweeds. “Last year was an excellent year for the tumbleweed, Goeden said. “Normally soil moisture is depleted in August, but the opportunistic weeds made full use of the rains that came with Hurricane Doreen. Now farmers and clean-up crews have allies. The stem-borer feeds within the branches of the weed, hollowing them out so they lose water. The leaf-miner attacks the plant leaves. Stripping of tropical forests could mean bird extinction By KATHRYN GOFF North American migratory birds face a “new wave of extinction, ” be cause of recent stripping of South American forests, according to Dr. Joseph J. Hickey. Hickey, a guest speaker of the department of wildlife and fisheries sciences, spoke on “The Ecology of Recent Vertebrate Extinction.” Hickey told the crowd of about 200 Tuesday night that stripped tropical rain forests in South America result in rangelands. These rangelands, composed of laterite- clay-like-soils, incapable of soaking in water, allow the top soil to wash away. “You can just watch the silt wash away,” he said. The laterite soil, when exposed to the sun, bakes solid. The plant and animal life that once flourished in the rain forests cannot survive on these sterile lands. Such North American mi gratory birds as redstarts “will un doubtedly go down in number,’ Hickey said. Although man has caused such birds as the Great Auk, the heath hen and the dodo to vanish, Hickey said that man has nurtured other “We are always finding new species of birds, and insects never described before are discovered,” said Hickey. species. Conservation groups are now sell ing so much bird seed to people who want birds at their houses, Hickey said, that the evening grosbeak- population has increased. Because of the cattle industry, the cattle egret has become one of the most common birds in Texas. Birds that were reported as rare by Audubon over two centuries ago are now common, he added. Hickey received his doctoral de gree from the University of Michi gan. He is a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Wiscon sin at Madison. For the extent of his 30 year career, Hickey has re searched population ecology, the ef fects of pollution on bird life, and rare and endangered species. Honors Aggie sons Antique piano give A solid rosewood, 130-year-old square grand piano has been given to Texas A&M University by Mr. and Mrs. Cramon Stan ton of Houston. It was presented in honor of their Aggie sons, 1974 graduate Charles and John ‘66. Built around 1850 by the Chase Piano Co. of Ripley, Ohio, the instrument is located in the Schiwetz Lounge on the first floor of the Memorial Student Center. An identical piano was in President Abraham Lincoln s White House. Another is in the museum at the Washington on the Brazos. Texas A6rM officials including Dr. John Koldus, vice president for student services, and Robert Walker, vice president for de velopment, attended the formal Monday presentation. Singing Cadets member and pianist David Stevens played for the ceremony. The piano will be played on special occasions. MSG President Lynn Gibson expressed student appreciation for the gift. “Your gift will be ap preciated by thousands and thousands of Texas A&M stu dents through the years,’ Gibson said. The Stantons acquired the an tique from a Mt. Gilead, Ohio, stone cutter. Handbuilt, the Connie and Cramon Stanton of Houston observe vens as he plays on the historic grand piano they tlonateil| the University. It is valued at $10,000. piano has carved cabriole legs and hand-turned screws. The in strument was appraised at $10,000. “We have a great deal of for Texas A&M though neitli us attended here, said Stanl a University of Michigan gradi An author of over 100 papers and articles on wildlife, he wrote the book “A Guide to Bird Watching” and edited “Peregrine Falcon Popu lation: Their Biology and Decline.” Hickey has received the coveted Aldo Leopold Award, and the Ar thur A. Allen Medal. Cost of A&M traditional formal other bashes continues to rise “We’re the best damn outfit off the To paraphrase the boasting of our ryi r>l IC beloved Corps Irdl I of Cadets in which we’re proud, we believe we’re the best apartment complex in Aggie- land" Not only do we have attractive : onei two" an'3 tfiree bedroom apart ments with loads of closet space, all electric kitchens, individual heating and air conditioning, but we have our own lighted tennis courts, supervised intramural activities, social functions and 24-hour maintenance. Just ask anyone who lives at the Viking. They’ll tell you we have the best and fastest maintenance crew anywhere, and the friendliest, most considerate property managers in Aggieland. After all, “We’re the best damn outfit off the campus.’’ Come live with us! Happiness is living at the Viking. Call Jean or ' Shirley today. .APARTMENTS 693-6716 By JUDITH DUNN Class formals are an expensive Texas A&M tradition, and the costs are continuing to rise. Hal Gaines, associate director for the Memorial Student Center, is in charge of the Senior Class bash at Lakeview, the senior banquet, and the formal dances held this year. “We’ve already spent approxi mately $2,()()() more than last year s senior class, he said. This year’s “Senior Weekend, April 28 and 29, will cost the Class of ‘78 approximately $15,000, Gaines said. “This price includes the costs for the bash at Lakeview, the banquet before the formals, and also includes the cost for two dances this year in stead of just one, he explained. This year there will be two dances going on at the same time. This re sults from the large turnout last year. “The other classes don t spend as much as the senior class, but this is their last year, and they want to make it their best, Gaines said. The junior class formal will be held Feb. 25 in the ballroom of the Loo kill ^ For A Good Health Food Store? Zachry Enginnering Cente Jane Eike, class chairman id of finances for the formal. ‘‘It will cost the junior da proximately $1,400,” shesaii This is the cost for only® mal, including expenses fbi and the band, Eike said. The sophomore class wi only one formal to pay for, to Mary Ann Wallace, adviser sophomore class. “With refreshmentsanclak pay for, expenses will total where between $1,100 andSL she said. The sophomore das hold their formal in the Zadin gineering Center on Feb. 11. James Randolph, adviser! freshman class, said that the hold their formal on Feb. 18 MSC. This formal wjll cost ap imatelv $1,800, he said. come by THE PANTRY Navy’s professional business We Carry A Wide Selection of Natural Foods & Vitamins. We Pick Up & Deliver a Dr lege chaq A Vech drivi a ch< cord D.I. $218 Cc vin I char; “All one Tl Ridgecrest Shopping Center 3525 Texas Ave. managers BUD WARD VOLKSWAGEN INC 693-3311 BUSINESS MAJORS T T T t M 111-Tt 1T11T-H1111111T T T nrrmTi] e-< Are you interested in managing in the areas of finance, purchasing or accounting within a MULTI MILLION DOLLAR organization? IF YOU ARE: AN ADVENTUROUS MALE OR FEMALE, OB TAINING A BUSINESS RELATED DEGREE, MAKING GOOD GRADES AND BETWEEN 19-27 V 2 YEARS OF AGE THEN YOU MAY QUALIFY TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NAVY’S SUPPLY CORPS. IF YOU QUALIFY, A LIMITED NUMBER OF MANAGEMENT POSITIONS ARE AVAILABLE TO GRADUATES OF THE 1978 CLASS. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN POSITIONS IN PAYROLL MAN AGEMENT, HOTEL/RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT, RETAIL STORE OPERATIONS, SUPPLY LOGISTICS, NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS, ETC. STARTING SALARY $11,834.76 AFTER TWO YEARS $14,678.76 STOP BY THE MSC JAN. 24-27 FROM 9 A.M. TO 4 P.M. AND TALK WITH THE NAVY INFORMATION TEAM. r- H WE’RE ADDING A DAY SHIFT! SH Pizza Express is now open for lunch to give you more of a good thing! . . . THE SAME GREAT PIZZA — With ingredients made daily to insure quality and freshness, piled high enough to satisfy any pizza lover. , . . FREE DELIVERY — We’ll deliver a piping hot pizza to your door within 30 minutes. . . . SAVINGS for lunch. Right now we’ll give you discount, just for trying us EVERY DAY 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 846-7785 $1.00 Off any Large Pizza 75c Off any Medium Pizza 50c Off any Small Pizza I I I L.. Name Phone Offer Expires Wed., Jan. 25 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. only vrniiii'ii ii i t til iifTt ittiitiiiii iimr