HOW TO DETECT OUTBREAKS OF INSECTS AN1> SAVE GRAIN. 13 



June or early July, and then change to the pupal or resting stage. 

 The injury often ceases so suddenly that farmers are at a loss to 

 account for the fact. 



CONTROL OF CUTWORMS. 



If land that has been in grass for a considerable time and is likely 

 to contain cutworms is to be planted to corn the following spring, 

 it should be plowed in midsummer or early fall, about the time the 

 eggs are laid or, better, before the eggs are laid, for then vegetation 

 which is suitable for the moths to lay their eggs upon is removed. 

 The earlier the preceding year grasslands to be planted to corn are 

 plowed, the less will be the probability that the cutw^orm moths will 

 have laid their eggs thereon, and the less, consequently, will be the 

 danger of injury by cutworms the folloAving year. 



Late fall and Avinter plowing of grasslands, although not as effec- 

 tive as early plowing, will destroy many of the hibernating cut- 

 worms, as well as such other important corn pests as white grubs, 

 and should be practiced when earlier plowing is impracticable. 



Pasturing hogs upon land supposed to harbor cutworms is a bene- 

 ficial practice, as these animals root up and devour insects of many 

 kinds, including cutworms, in large numbers. Farm poultry, allowed 

 to follow the plow, is of great value. 



When cutworms are found to be abundant on corn land, the use of 

 the poisoned bait described on page 10 is recommended. In fields 

 known to be infested, the distribution of this bait should be begun 

 as soon as the corn appears above the ground, so that the cutworms 

 may be eliminated as quickly as possible and the injured hills re- 

 planted promptly. During the w^armer spring months cutworms do 

 most of their feeding at night and burrow into the soil to -the depth 

 of an inch or two during the day, so that the bait usually will be 

 more effective if applied during the late afternoon and early evening- 

 hours. 



Frequently cutworms migrate to cultivated fields from adjoining 

 grassland, and in such cases the crops can be protected by running a 

 narrow band of the poisoned bait aroiind the edge of the field or 

 along the side nearest the source of infestation.^ 



GRASSHOPPERS.' 



(irasshoppers are injuriously abundant in various parts of the 

 United States every year. Their ravages, which occur chiefly on 

 alfalfa and the grasses, can be preA ented largely by cheap and prac- 

 tical means, especially where vigilance is exercised. These pests may 

 be discovered in their young stages, when it is easy to control them 



1 Further information regarding these pests is contained in Farmers' Bulletin 739, 

 which may be secured free of charge upon application to the Secretary of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C. 



* Melanoplits spp., etc. 



