26 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF KANSAS. 



equally with corn. Tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, rad- 

 ishes, peas and turnips are attacked. 



Remedies. — Corn planted early gets a start which enables it to 

 resist the attacks of the caterpillar. Early planting may be said 

 to be the surest safeguard. In infested gardens, fowls may be al- 

 lowed to run. Spraying with some arsenical, as Paris green, or 

 London purple (see p. 7.), where the poison can be used without 

 endangering life, is effectiv^e. (For spraying directions, see pagelO.) 



Kansas Notes. — In the Second Biennial Report Kansas Board 

 of Agriculture, 1879-'80, p. 493, Prof. E. A. Popenoe presented in- 

 teresting notes on the occurrence of the Web-worm. In June of 

 1880 "fields and gardens in the central portion of the State suf- 

 fered severely from the ravages " of this pest. Professor Popenoe 

 bred a Tachinid fly from the caterpillar, and believed that this 

 parasite was ordinarily present in sufficient force to be a consider- 

 able check upon the increase of the caterpillars. 



In the report of the Kansas Board of Agriculture for the month 

 ending June 30, 1885, Prof F. H. Snow reports the presence of 

 this insect in considerable numbers in 35 counties of the State, 

 the counties most infested being confined to the southeastern 

 quarter of the State. The chief injuries in 1880 were inflicted 

 upon corn and potatoes. A complete list of the plants destroyed 

 includes sweet-corn, field corn, Irish potatoes, sweet-potatoes, mil- 

 let, flax, cotton, castor beans, clover, timothy, cabbage, peas, beets, 

 lettuce, melons, cucumbers, onions, and other garden-stuflT. The 

 extent of the damage reached about 10 per cent, of the entire crop 

 in the counties most seriously attacked. 



In 1891 the Department received reports of the presence of 

 the worm in Kiowa, Clark and Cowley counties. A correspond- 

 ent in Kiowa county wrote as follows : 



They form a web around our garden vegetables of almost every kind 

 except potatoes, and completely destroy them. They are reported to- 

 day [June 24] in field corn to considerable extent, destroying it in 

 some places entirely.. 



Another correspondent, sending specimens June 26, writes : 



Chrysanthemums, carnations, asters, pinks and geraniums are going; 

 also a field of young corn. 



