Cutworms 



if alfalfa starts very slowly or makes an indifferent growth in the spring, 

 the fields should be examined for cutworms. 



If cutworms are causing the injury the dead and wilted beets or dying 

 stools of grain will be found cut off at the surface of the ground, or just 

 below it. Should these plants still be attached to their roots, there being 

 no evidence of their having been partially gnawed off, cutworms are not 

 responsible for the plants dying. In case the plants have been killed for 

 some time the dead and dried leaves may have been blown away, leaving 

 the ground bare. In this case the stubs of the plants will be found if the 

 soil is removed to a depth of one-half inch or so. 



When the slowness in starting or indifferent growth of alfalfa is due 

 to cutworms many new shoots will be found wilted and dead. These 

 will be gnawed off near the crown of the plant. As in the case of beets 

 and grain, shoots that are not at least partially gnawed off have not been 

 killed by cutworms. 



While the foregoing is usually sufficient evidence that cutworms are 

 or have been injuring a crop, yet the real proof is in finding the worms. 



WHERE TO LOOK FOR THE WORMS 



Most cutworms, like the moths which produce them, are nocturnal 

 in habit. They lie hidden beneath trash or just below the surface of 

 the soil during the day, coming forth toward dusk and during the night 

 to feed. When very numerous and during cloudy, damp days, they 

 sometimes move about quite freely in the early part of the day. 



In infested fields the worms will usually be found buried in the soil 

 near some plant which has been recently cut off. In alfalfa they will be 

 found buried near the crowns of the plants or under the trash scattered 

 over the field. Many times they accumulate under boards and other 

 objects lying on the surface of the ground. Careful watch should be 

 kept for worms before planting as damage can best be avoided by de- 

 stroying them before the crop is sown. 



METHODS OF CONTROL 



Poisoned Bait; Kansas Mixture 



The best known method of killing cutworms is the use of poisoned 

 bait. A poisoned bran mash known as Kansas Mixture seems to give 

 the best results. The formula for use against cutworms is as follows: 



20 lbs. bran or shorts; 



1 lb. Paris green; 



2 qts. molasses (any cheap grade or beet molasses) ; 



2 lemons or oranges (lemons preferred) ; 



3 gals, water. 



How to Make Kansas Mixture 



Thoroughly mix the bran or shorts and the Paris green dry. Chop 

 the lemons or oranges, rind included, very fine. If a food chopper is 

 available, use this. Add the molasses and chopped fruit to about one- 

 half of the water and stir until the molasses is dissolved. Add this 

 mixture to the bran and Paris green and mix evenly. The rest of the 

 water should then be added a little at a time, stirring the mixture while 

 doing so, and until the whole mass is evenly moistened. When this 



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