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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 1, 1962 



INSECT SURVEY BULLETIN NO. 7 



These weekly bulletins, prepared by entomologists of the University of 

 Illinois College of Agriculture, Illinois Natural History Survey and cooperating 

 agencies, report general trends in insect populations in Illinois (fruit insects 

 excepted). Check your own fields to determine local conditions. 



Grasshoppers may become our most serious field crop insect pest of 1962. 

 Hatch is progressing rapidly in the south^teJ^gfi'ELlitaois, particularly along the 

 east side, and will very likely occur throughout much ^pf northern Illinois within 

 the next few weeks. Although rains of the pa£t"wee^k4aay have killed some of the 

 small 'hoppers that had already hatched, there are plenty more yet to hatch. 



Last fall, adult grasshoppers apparently laid eggs not only in roadsides, 

 ditch banks, grass waterways and similar areas, but in alfalfa and clover fields as 

 well, and small 'hoppers are present over entire hay fields. In some instances, 

 corn or soybeans planted on sod are evenly infested throughout the entire field. 

 Also, this week small grasshoppers began migrating from fence rows into marginal 

 rows of beans and corn. 



Apply l/8 lb. of dieldrin or 1 l/2 lb. of toxaphene to fence rows, ditch 

 banks, roadsides, diverted acres and similar areas where the crop will not be grazed 

 or used as hay for dairy animals or livestock fattening for slaughter. Dieldrin, 1 

 oz., or toxaphene, 1 l/2 lb. per acre, can be used on corn or soybeans where necessary. 



Check hay fields for grasshoppers. If there are six or more 'hoppers per 

 square yard, plan to treat soon. If possible, cut the crop and spray fence rows 

 and new growth right away. 



For hay crops, use 1 lb. of malathion or 3 A lb. of Sevin per acre. Allow 

 one week to elapse between application of malathion and grazing or cutting. No 

 interval is required with Sevin. Diazinon can be used on alfalfa only, at 1/2 lb. 

 per acre, with a 7-day interval between application and harvest. Dibrom, a com- 

 paratively new insecticide, can be used on alfalfa or red clover hay or pasture. 

 Allow k days to elapse between treatment and harvest. 



Above all, be aware of the possibility of grasshoppers. Control them 

 while they are small and easily killed and before they migrate over the entire farm 

 and do considerable damage, 



Black cutworms damaged cornfields this past week in western and eastern 

 Illinois, and more spotted damage will probably occur this week. These insects 

 are usually a problem in low spots in corn fields, as the moths prefer to lay their 

 eggs in wet spots. The worms, after cutting the corn in these places, migrate into 

 the rest of the field. Oftentimes infestations may be spotted over the entire 

 field. 



If the stand is worth saving, apply 1./2 lb . of dieldrin, l/k pound of endrin 

 or 3 pounds of toxaphene per acre; use as much water per acre as possible. Con- 

 centrate the spray at the base of the plants. Cultivate right away, throwing dirt 

 into the row on top of the sprayed strip. If replanting is necessary, broadcast, 

 prior to planting, no less than 2 lb. of aldrin or heptachlor (preferably 3) or 1 

 lb. of dieldrin, and disk in immediately. 



THE LIBRARY OF THE 



JUN "4 1962 



university m \imm 



