FARMERS BULLETIN 890. 



SOUTHERN GRASSWORM.i 



The southorn grassworm, or fall amiy worm (fig. 6), is not native 

 to the United States, although occasionally it wintei-s over in the 

 extreme southern portions of the country. It feeds on many plants, 

 grasses, and cultivated crops and is often a serious pest. Winter 

 control is of no avail, as the attack follows the flight of the moths 

 into new territory. The larvge work very rapidly and cause consid- 

 erable injury to the plants by gnawing the stem partly in two, eating 

 the growing tips, and causing other injuries which result in a dis- 

 torted gi'owth and 

 dwarfing of the plant. 

 When numerous on 

 cotton, powdered ar- 

 senate of lead should 

 ])e applied at the rate 

 of about 5 pounds 

 per acre. Tlie usual 

 method of utilizing 

 cloth sacks on polos 

 carried through the 

 fi(dd on the back of a 

 horse or mule is per- 

 fectly adapted to this 

 crop. The following 

 description of the 

 construction and use 

 of the outfit needed 

 for this purpose is 

 quoted from Farmers' 

 Bulletin 872, "The 

 Boll worm or Corn 

 Earworm:" 



^G. 6.— Southern grass worm, or fall army worm: a. Adult male 

 moth; 6, right front wingof female moth; c, moth in restuig position; 

 d, pupa; e, full-grown larva, a, b, d, e, about twice natural size: c, 

 slightly enlarged. (Walton and I.uginbill.) 



A 4-inch board about 

 18 inches lonfror than the 

 distance between the rows is used for the pole. To form the bags at either end, 

 four blocks of the same material, each about 4 inches long, are nailed endwise to the 

 underside of the pole. One of these is placed at each end and the other two about 

 16 inches from these to form the ends for the rectangular-shaped bags. An inch 

 one and a half inch hole is then bored through the pole about 8 inches from eith( 

 end for pouring the poison into the bags. These holes are closed with corks when' 

 the outfit is in use. The sides of a rectangular piece of cloth are then tacked along 

 each edge of the pole, and the ends to the side, and bottom of the blocks. If un- 

 adulterated Paris green is to be used, 8-ounce duck may be used for the bag, butj 

 lighter material is necessary for powdered arsenate of lead or Paris green mixed with' 

 flour. The poison sifts out over the plants as the pole is jarred by striking it wit* 



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Laphygma/rugiprrda S. and .V. 



