-2- 



Chinch bug adults have left their winter quarters and can be found in 

 grass fields and thin stands of small grains. No high concentrations were found 

 this week. 



Corn borer overwintering populations were highest in the area west of 

 a line from Rockford to Joliet and north of a line from Joliet to Pittsfield. 

 Pupation of the overwintering borers is now complete in south and south- central 

 Illinois and ranges from 75 to 90 percent complete in central Illinois and from 50 

 to 85 percent in north- central and northern Illinois. Slight moth emergence has 

 occurred throughout Illinois. 



Corn can be damaged by a variety of things other than insects. This week 

 we saw corn root injury from wind whipping the plants. If no insect can be found, 

 look for some other cause . 



Bean leaf beetles are abundant in a few fields of soybeans. Applications 

 of insecticides are usually not required at this time; but if stands actually are 

 being killed, 1 l/2 pounds of toxaphene should control them. 



Potato leafhoppers are more abundant on alfalfa than they have been for 

 several years. Second-growth alfalfa north of a line from St. Louis to Paris may 

 be noticeably damaged within the next few weeks. When the new growth is h to 6 

 inches high, shake the plants over a plate. If tiny yellow to green wedge-shaped 

 insects run sidewise across the plate, you may expect the alfalfa soon to turn 

 yellow and purple from leafhopper feeding. To prevent this, apply 1 pound of 

 methoxychlor or Sevin. Allow one week to elapse between application of methoxychlor 

 and harvest or pasture. 



Bagworms have hatched in southern Illinois, are or will soon be hatching 

 in central Illinois and will hatch in another two weeks in northern Illinois. To 

 control them, apply sprays of malathion, toxaphene, Sevin or lead arsenate. Do not 

 apply malathion to Cannart red juniper. For small amounts of spray, use one table- 

 spoon of lead arsenate, malathion wettable powder, Sevin wettable powder or 60 per- 

 cent toxaphene emulsifiable concentrate, or 2 teaspoons of malathion emulsifiable 

 concentrate per gallon of water. 



Elm leaf beetle larvae have been feeding on Chinese elms in some areas. 

 Sevin or lead arsenate sprays will control these pests. 



Honeybees may be damaged by field applications of insecticides unless 

 precautions are taken: (l) Apply materials when bees are not visiting the field; 



(2) do not apply insecticides directly to or allow them to drift over hives of bees; 



(3) where bees are close by (up to l/2 mile), choose the insecticide least toxic to 

 bees, or notify beekeepers at least k8 hours before application is made; and (h) avoid 

 contamination of clover crops or non-crop plants being visited by bees. More in- 

 formation on bees is available from E. R. Jaycox, University of Illinois Horticul- 

 ture Department, Urbana, Illinois. 



Caution : Before applying insecticides, read the labels carefully and 

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

 eliminate residue hazards. 



X X X X X X**** 



This weekly report was prepared by H. B. Petty, Steve Moore, and C. E. 

 White, Illinois Natural History Survey and Illinois College of Agriculture, in 

 cooperation with the USDA Agricultural Service, Plant Pest Control Branch, from 

 information gathered by entomologists and cooperators who send in weekly reports 

 from their own localities. 



