48 GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 



CUTWORMS. 



Fig. 33. Cutworm, injurious in 1911. Enlarged about twice. 



With the exception of a few localities no report of serious Cut- 

 worm in.iury reached this office in 1912, but from about May 8th to 

 June 1st in 1911, more complaints regarding cut worms arrived in 

 the mail than ever before and letters of inquiry came in from time 

 to time up to the middle of June, the culmination of injury appear- 

 ing the last of May, at which time letters complaining of this pest 

 represented nine-tenths of the entomologist's mail. Reports of cut- 

 worm damage came from almost every part of the state ; we note 

 in our files communications from Sauk Center, Minneapolis, Star- 

 buck, Windom, Fosston, Northfield, Duluth, Glenwood, Zumbrota, 

 Mankato, Austin, Rush City, Madelia, Hutchinson and Warroad, 

 and a host of other places, showing wide distribution. It will be 

 remembered that cutworms were bad in 1909, much worse in 1910 

 and the climax appears to have been reached in 1911. We believe 

 this to be due to the unusual dryness of those j^ears, retarding the 

 growth of weeds, thus forcing the worms to prey more assiduously 

 upon cultivated crops, and being particularly unfavorable to the 

 growth and spread of fungous diseases which in ordinary seasons 

 undoubtedly kill large numbers of caterpillars. 



We have recommended various methods of combating them. 

 Poisoned bait, made of bran mash, sweetened with cheap sugar, or 

 syrup, or molasses, and made decidedly green with a liberal applica- 

 tion of Paris green, is a very good remedy in a garden. A table- 

 spoonfull of this should be put at frequent intervals among the 

 plants subject to attack, not, however, nearer than eight inches 

 to the plant, for in case of rain, the Paris green might be washed 

 against the roots, and would injure or kill the plant. Thorough 

 cultivation is an aid ; pieces of shingle or board placed at intervals 

 over the garden serve as traps under which the cut worms hide 

 toward morning, and can be found and killed. Frequently, the dep- 

 redator will be found within an inch or so of the plant cut, buried 

 an inch under the soil. Young plants, like cabbage, cauliflower. 



