INJURIOUS INSECTS OF I90Q AND IQIO. 9 
Mr. E. W. Stafford was sent to Heron Lake on July 6th, and 
makes the following report: 
Examined conditions at Heron Lake. Army worms have been working 
on timothy which is becoming mature and being cut. They now are migrat- 
ing to other crops, e. g., wheat, oats, barley, corn. These larvae have de- 
stroyed most of the timothy seed in the environs of Heron Lake. As 
timothy is ready to cut, maximum damage is already done to that crop. Rye 
is much of it cut, so not damaging it. One farmer’s oats so badly infested 
that he cut prematurely for hay. Recommended plowing furrows and use 
of kerosene and crude oil. Placed larvae on kerosene can almost dry; died 
in 45 to 60 seconds. Examined field of corn belonging to Mr. Pratt; across 
road, a badly infested timothy field, on farm of Mr. Smith. On farm of C. 
P. Fiske little infestation. In Pratt’s field the rows near timothy were badly 
infested with army worms. Attacked central shoots, ate holes in leaves, and 
ate on edges of the leaves. Degree of infestation decreased as one advanced 
away from edges of field. After about 35th row, little or no infestation. 
Looked at corn rather late in the evening, and found many larvae on the 
ground. It rained the day before examination was made, and Mr. Fiske said 
larvae on his oats were not as plentiful as the day before. 
Visited the farm of Mr. Geo. Reynault, and found army worms migrating 
from cut timothy to other crops. Attacked oats, wheat and barley equally 
badly. At edge of fields, found great numbers; ten feet in, found a few, and 
at thirty feet found none at all. 
It is said that some timothy fields have been left as long as ten years. 
Where there was no timothy there was no trouble with the worm. Much of 
the grain will soon be harvested, so will be out of danger. Many farmers 
are enthusiastic about the idea of using crude oil in the furrows. Price is 
lower, and it will not evaporate so readily nor penetrate into the soil. 
The worms do more damage to wheat than to other crops, as they often 
cut off stems at base first thing, then the whole head falls off. In oats, the 
larva consumes one kernel at a time. I did not find any on flax, clover, 
alfalfa, nor on the swale grasses. 
Went out with P. B. St. John to farm of John Maxner. Timothy being 
cut, corn adjacent. First forty rows rather bad. He had put Paris green on 
two rows, with little or poor results. I examined the stubble for larvae, but 
found none. 
Went to Shaeffer’s farm. He had cut a furrow about two feet from edge 
of field, and left strip as trap. This got covered with larvae, and with a pail 
he collected a large quantity, which he killed. 
The Wheat-head army worm. 
