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Fall armyworms have "been feeding in the whorls of late corn. This insect 

 which can "be found deep in the whorl is the one which literally riddles the leaves 

 of the corn plant. Several plants in one area of a field are attacked "by worms. 

 Ordinarily there is only one worm in each plant. The corn rapidly grows away from 

 the damage. By contrast, true armyworms stay in the soil during the day and migrate 

 up onto the plants at night stripping the leaves as they go. Common stalk "borers 

 are striped worms with a purple area on the middle of the "body. They riddle corn 

 leaves also and can he found deep in the whorl hut only individual plants along 

 fence rows, ditchbanks and grass waterways are attacked. 



Thus far none of these worms have "been ahundant enough to warrant the use 

 of insecticides as a protectant. 



Spruce hud scales are mahogany-brown globular scales clustered at the buds 

 and nodes of spruce. The eggs which have overwintered under the mature scales 

 are now hatching in central and northern Illinois. Spray infested spruce trees now 

 with two teaspoons of malathion concentrate in a gallon of water. This is one quart 

 in one hundred gallons. 



Oak kermes (kermez) are the spherical scale insects now commonly found 

 clustered at the base of new shoots of oaks, particularly bur oaks. Apply malathion 

 as for spruce bud scale. 



Mimosa webworms attack the leaves of honey locust and mimosa. A small 

 pale-gray to brown, active, striped caterpillar can be found in a bunch of leaves tied 

 together with a silken thread. They skeletonize these leaflets and then form a new 

 nest. The old nest turns brown and the leaves die. Those worms now feeding are 

 the first generation. There will be a second and possibly even a third generation 

 this year. Use malathion sprays as for spruce bud scale. Sprays of lead arsenate 

 may also be used. 



Caution : Before applying insecticides, read the labels carefully and 

 follow all precautions. This not only will insure personal safety, but will also 

 eliminate insecticide residue hazards. 



Special Note to Farm Advisers (NOT FOR PUBLICATION) 



If you have reports of suspected rootworm resistance to aldrin or hepta- 

 chlor, check the reports. If the field has been in corn for several years, has also 

 been treated with soil insecticide almost every year, and you find rootworm larvae 

 feeding heavily on the roots or you find dozens of green beetles feeding on the 

 silks, let us know. We need to know about these instances now. 



Prepared by H. B. Petty, Steve Moore, Roscoe Randall and Clarence E. White 

 Extension Entomologists, University of Illinois College of Agriculture 

 and Illinois Natural History Survey 



H. B. Petty 

 Extension Specialist 

 in Entomology 



