66 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



stones, untrimmed strips beside fences and similar localities. Farms 

 where clean culture prevails are much less likely to suffer injury 

 than those presenting conditions attractive to the moths, as de- 

 scribed above. 



The caterpillars of this pest are usually so abundant in an in- 

 fested field that nothing but heroic and prompt measures will stop 

 their work. Grain badly infested throughout with these insects 

 can be saved only by cutting it at once and drying, because the cater- 

 pillars will cease eating as soon as the stalks have become somewhat 

 hard. Usually army worms are very abundant in patches here and 

 there, and advantage may be taken of this and their spreading to 

 comparatively uninfested portions prevented by the use of a series 

 of furrows, bands of tar, narrow boards set on edge and with the 

 face next the pests covered with tar, or other obstacles. The furrows, 

 if they be employed, should be turned away from the portion to be 

 protected, and they can be made more efficient by excavating holes 

 in the bottom at intervals of a rod or two, in which the army worms 

 will drop as they crawl along the furrows seeking a place to 

 escape. The pests can easily be destroyed in such places by pour- 

 ing on kerosene or even covering with earth and crushing, A strip 

 of tar several inches wide, preferably spread upon a board, will 

 turn the caterpillars aside and it may likewise be made more effect- 

 ive by digging holes close beside it, into which the worms may be 

 trapped as described above. A narrow, smooth board set on edge, 

 tipping a little toward the pests,- will also be of value in diverting 

 the insects from the field to be protected. 



The caterpillars can be destroyed by spraying crops on which 

 they are feeding with paris green, london purple or other arsenical 

 poison, making a very heavy application with the idea of destroy- 

 ing them at once. A poisoned strip should prove of considerable 

 service in protecting areas beyond and its efficacy may be enhanced 

 by the employment of a poisoned bran mash, using enough paris 

 green or other arsenical poison to give a distinct coloring to the 

 mixture and spreading it liberally in thickly infested sections. Bet- 

 ter results will follow the use of this latter if the mash be distrib- 

 uted in the late afternoon, as it would remain moist and attractive 

 to the caterpillars for a longer period. Many army worms may be 

 destroyed by spraying them with kerosene, a strong kerosene emul- 

 sion or other contact insecticide. These measures will destroy the 

 caterpillars and are not so dangerous to live stock as though poison 

 was employed. 



