FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 4- May 12, 1961 



INSECT SURVEY BULLETIN NO.^S. 



This is the fourth in a series of weekly bulletins on the general insect 

 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 impending 

 changes in insect activity and suggests abbreviated control measures. These reports 

 indicate only general trends. Each individual should check his own fields to deter- 

 mine local conditions. 



Face flies ; Our most pressing insect problem at present is this new pest 

 of livestock. As many as 55 face flies have been counted on one animal during the 

 past two sunny days. Counts of 5 to 20 per animal are common. This situation 

 exists north of a line from Paris to Carroll ton. Flies are also laying eggs. We 

 now foresee a serious face fly problem this summer, perhaps even more serious than 

 we have seen thus far. This should serve as a warning to livestock and dairy 

 farmers to start Immediately on a face fly control program. The better the control 

 now, the less severe the problem will be this summer. 



For dairy cattle, apply DDVP commercially prepared face fly bait daily to 

 the animal's forehead for the next 2 to 3 weeks and then every 3 to 5 days as 

 needed. For beef cattle, use 5 percent toxaphene in a backrubber. Homemade back- 

 rubbers work as well as the commercial ones. Run a taut line of h to 6 strands of 

 barbed wire from a post about 5 feet above ground to a stake in the ground about 

 9 feet away, and wrap with gunny sacks. Saturate with the toxaphene solution. 

 Place the backrubber where it is readily accessible and will be used. Do not treat 

 cattle with toxaphene within 28 days of slaughter. 



Pea aphids ; Occasional clover and alfalfa fields, particularly in cen- 

 tral and north- central Illinois, are heavily infested with aphids; some plants are 

 now sticky from honey dew, a sugary secretion of the aphids. Wilting is occurring 

 in some fields. With the present moisture and an increase in temperature, para- 

 sites, predators, and aphid diseases may help reduce the population. 



If control i6 necessary, apply one pound of malathion, l/h pound of para- 

 thion or phosdrin, or 1/8 pound of demeton. Allow one week between treatment and 

 harvest when applying malathion, 1 day with phosdrin, 15 days with parathion, and 

 21 days with demeton. Only one application of demeton can be made per cutting. 

 Demeton, parathion, and phosdrin should be applied only by operators experienced 

 in handling organic phosphates. 



Spittle bugs : Control is still in order if the field averages at least 

 one or more nymphs per stem. To control spittle bugs, use l/U pound of lindane or 

 1 pound of methoxychlor per acre. Lindane does best when air temperatures are 

 over 60 degrees. It will also control clover leaf weevil and aid in controlling 

 pea aphids. Do not apply lindane within one month of harvest or pasture, or 

 methoxychlor within one week. 



Corn borer : Corn borer development will be later than normal this year 

 compared with development of the corn crop. This means that the young borers in 

 late June and July will survive better than usual. However, they may be scattered 

 over a large acreage. 



Armyworms : We have had one report of tiny armyworms from southern Illi- 

 nois. So far the cool, damp weather has been ideal for armyworms. Examine luxu- 

 riant growths of wheat, barley, rye, timothy, and other grasses, as it is in this 



