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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August k, i960 



INSECT SURVEY BULLETIN NO. l6 



This is the sixteenth in a series of weekly "bulletins on the general in- 

 sect situation in Illinois (fruit insects excepted), prepared by entomologists of 

 the Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois College of Agriculture, 

 and cooperating agencies. It is designed to forewarn people in Illinois of impend- 

 ing changes in insect activity and to suggest abbreviated control measures. These 

 reports indicate only general trends. Each individual should check his own fields 

 to determine local conditions. 



Face flies : This pest is increasing rapidly and it has become quite 

 noticeable that animals are fighting these flies. Face flies resemble house flies 

 but are slightly larger and they cluster about the eyes and nostrils of the animals. 

 The eyes water excessively, and the animals bunch up, shake their ears, and rub their 

 heads instead of grazing. 



DDVP, 0.2$, in a mixture of 75$ corn sirup and 25$ water has been approved 

 as a bait. Make daily applications with a single six-inch stroke of a small paint 

 brush to the foreheads of cattle. Morning applications of the bait are recommended 

 daily for a two-week period, followed by other applications as needed. When the 

 face flies feed on the bait, the population is soon reduced to non-economic levels. 

 Products conforming to this label are or soon will be on the market. 



For best results, use only those DDVP baits specifically labeled for face 

 fly control. Similar products containing DDVP are en the market to be used as house 

 fly baits. Some of these commercially prepared house fly baits contain an added 

 material to extend the shelf -life of the bait. This added material, although not 

 repellent to house flies, repels face flies. 



Until DDVP face fly baits become available, apply repellent sprays con- 

 taining tabatrex or R-326 in combination with pyrethrins to the heads of dairy 

 cattle. Special face-fly-repellent sprays containing these materials are available 

 and may be expected to reduce the fly population 60 to 70 percent. 



For beef cattle, use a backrubber containing either 5 percent DDT or toxa- 

 phene in oil. Success with backrubbers will depend on whether the animals can smear 

 a liberal supply of the chemical on their heads. Backrubbers constructed with an 

 outer layer of canvas, burlap, or cloth, as opposed to metal, would be best for this 

 purpose. Allow 30 days to elapse between this treatment and slaughter of the animals. 

 When DDVP face fly baits become available, they can be used on both dairy and non- 

 dairy animals that can be handled. 



European corn borer : On the basis of population surveys for first- 

 generation corn borer, it appears that second-generation borer numbers will be about 

 the same as last year in northwestern Illinois, lower in northeastern and central 

 Illinois, and higher in eastern, western, and west-southwestern Illinois. Highest 

 populations will probably be in the west-southwestern, western, and northwestern 

 areas. 



Because of the wide range in planting dates this year, second-generation 

 borers may tend to concentrate in late-planted fields. Field corn that averages over 

 one egg mass per plant may profit from one application of 1 1/2 pounds of actual DDT 

 per acre as a spray, or 1 pound in the form of granules. Do not apply to ensilage 

 corn or corn stover to be used for dairy cattle. Sweet corn canners should be ready 

 to protect corn to be harvested after the 20th of August. 



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