where growth is thick and rank. Soon they will concentrate their egg laying in 

 the rank stands of wheat, barley, and rye. It is too soon to predict possible 

 problems with armyworms. 



Saw fly larvae were found in some wheat fields this week, but no armyworms were 

 found. Sawflies are yellowish-green, velvety, transparent -appearing worms. They 

 are abundant in wheat fields at the same time as armyworms, which are distinctly 

 striped. Do not confuse the sawfly larvae with armyworms. No control is needed 

 for sawflies. 



Flea beetles were observed damaging small corn in the southern sections. The mild 

 winter should have permitted good survival of flea beetles. Newly emerging corn 

 should be watched for the presence of small, shiny, black beetles that jump readily 

 when approached and leave white scratch marks on the leaves. For control, apply 

 5/4 pound of carbaryl (Sevin) , or 1 1/2 pounds of toxaphene per acre, as a band 

 over the row. Carbaryl would be the preferred material for use on dairy farms. 



Corn soil insects can best be controlled by broadcasting 1 1/2 pounds of aldrin or 

 heptachlor per acre, then disk in immediately. Do not use on dairy farms and do 

 not expect control of resistant northern or western corn rootworms with these mate- 

 rials. For fields with an average infestation of soil insects and without a his- 

 tory of cutworm problems, row treatments with aldrin or heptachlor at 1 pound per 

 acre have been highly satisfactory. No insecticide seed treatment is needed when 

 aldrin or heptachlor is used as a soil treatment. 



Dairy farmers or farmers having a known or suspected field of resistant rootworms 

 should use phorate (Thimet) , diazinon, 0-5353 (Buxten) , disulfoton (Di-Syston) , or 

 parathion as granules in a band. In addition, when a phosphate insecticide is 

 banded, the seed corn itself should be treated with dieldrin or heptachlor to pro- 

 tect against seed-infesting insects. 



Black cutworm moths have also been taken in light traps for the past two weeks. 

 Wet weather favors worm development. It is the low, wet spots in cornfields where 

 cutworms usually strike. Also cornfields with grass problems are more likely to 

 have cutworm problems than weed- free fields. It will be necessary to check corn- 

 fields beginning in early to mid-May for the presence of cutworms. Preplanting 

 broadcast treatments of 1 1/2 pounds per acre of actual aldrin or heptachlor (ex- 

 cept for dairy farms) disked in provides the most consistent control of this in- 

 sect. 



Forest tent caterpillars have defoliated trees in a few localities in southern 

 Illinois this past week. The worm is hairy and pale-blue, with a row of keyhole- 

 shaped white spots down the middle of the back, and pale-yellow stripes along the 

 sides. They prefer poplar, but are also destructive to oaks and maple. For con- 

 trol, spray foliage with carbaryl (Sevin) or lead arsenate, when the feeding or 

 worms are first noticed. Use 2 pounds of carbaryl, 50 -percent wettable powder in 

 100 gallons of water, or 4 pounds of lead arsenate wettable powder in 100 gallons 

 of water. 



Spring cankerworms are hatching and stripping the leaves of many deciduous trees. 

 They particularly like American elms and apply trees, but will attack other fruit 

 and shade trees. Sometimes these brown to dark-green to black measuring worms 

 completely strip trees of their new spring foliage, while other trees are only 

 partly defoliated. When full-grown, the worms drop to the ground by means of a 

 silken thread that appears like a streamer in the wind. By this time, it is too 



