SOME TROUBLESOME INVADERS 



351 



eventually die for want of food. The mattresses could 

 probably be fumigated with sulfur or subjected to steam 

 to kill the mites. 



Webster found that, in case of the infestation of straw 

 in the East where the grain moth was present, if the wheat 

 was threshed direct from the 

 shock, there would be almost 

 no occurrence of the grain 

 moth, and consequently no 

 mites. 



In Ohio, Indiana, or Illinois, 

 where straw is infested with 

 the wheat joint worm, the 

 problem is a little different. 

 In those states wheat follow- 

 ing wheat is more apt to be 

 infested with the joint worm. 

 Likewise, wheat grown on 

 poor soil and early sown 

 wheat seem to be worse in- 

 fested. To escape the joint 

 worm, then, wheat should be sown moderately late, on 

 good soil and on land not devoted to wheat the previous 

 year. Since the joint worm winters over in the stubble, 

 this should be burned, if possible, during the fall, winter, 

 or spring. Any measure lessening the joint worm will 

 lessen the chances of infestation by mites (Fig. 121). It 

 would be wise, when obtaining straw for beds, to deter- 

 mine if possible, whether the joint worm was present in 

 the field in which the wheat was grown. As a further 

 safeguard, oat straw would be preferable to wheat straw 

 whenever it could be obtained. 



Fig. 121. — The male mite, 

 enlarged. 



