-4- 



For control, spray the foliage thoroughly, using 2 teaspoons of 50- to 57-percent 

 malathion or a 2 5 -percent diazinon emulsion concentrate per gallon of water. Do 

 not use malathion on African violets or cannaert red cedar. Do not use diazinon 

 on ferns or hibiscus. 



Sod webworm moths can be seen flying over lawns at dusk. They hide in tall grass 

 and shrubbery during the day. These buff -colored moths of the second generation 

 have been laying eggs for the past 2 or 3 weeks. If worms are going to be a 

 problem, they should be causing damage soon. Brown, irregular spots in the lawn 

 are an indication of damage. These gray worms (with brown spots and dark-brown 

 heads) hide in the thatch and are difficult to find. Their silken-lined tunnels, 

 their droppings, and the cut pieces of grass are more apparent. 



If treatment becomes necessary, apply 2 pounds of actual carbaryl (Sevin) , 1 pound 

 of actual diazinon, or 1-1/4 pounds of actual trichlorfon (Dylox) per 10,000 square 

 feet. Apply the amount of insecticide suggested in at least 25 gallons of water. 

 Do not water for 3 days after treatment. Granular forms of the same insecticide 

 can be applied from a fertilizer spreader in place of the spray. 



Fleas often provide a not -so -welcome surprise when vacationers return home. The 

 hungry horde of adult fleas have developed from eggs and larvae while the dog or 

 cat were away. Flea eggs and larvae are difficult to find; they develop in rugs, 

 upholstered furniture, lint deposits, beds where dogs and cats sleep, and even 

 outdoors in the soil. The adult fleas emerge and spread throughout the house and 

 yard in search of a warm-blooded animal. Fleas usually attack the lower parts of 

 the legs on humans, leaving a series of 2, 3, and 4 punctures in a row in the skin. 



For control, treat the dog or cat with a 4-percent malathion or 5 -percent carbaryl 

 (Sevin) dust. Pets serve as a walking lunch counter for fleas. In cases of 

 severe infestations in homes, spray lightly over rugs, upholstered furniture, 

 and other areas where fleas are present with 0.1 -percent pyrethrum or 1 -percent 

 dichlorvos (DDVP) from a pressurized spray can. This will provide a quick kill 

 of adult fleas. Repeat treatments may be needed, since the spray lasts for only 

 a few hours. Apply the same dust material used on the dog or cat on their bedding 

 or basket. Outdoors, dust or spray the infested areas with either malathion or 

 carbaryl. 



PLANT DISEASES 



Corn 



Stewarts leaf blight (bacteria) of corn is present in scattered fields of dent 

 corn. Infections severe enough to cause yield reduction occur most frequently 

 in southern Illinois. Severely blighted fields invariably have increased amounts 

 of stalk rot late in the season. 



Stewarts blight can be recognized by the long, irregular streaks in the leaves. 

 At first, the streaks are light-green to yellow. Later, the tissue dies and 

 turns brown. Several streaks may coalesce and kill the entire leaf. Careful 

 examination of the streaks when the leaf is held to the light shows feeding in- 

 juries made by flea beetles. The injury appears as fine, irregular scratches. 

 The disease is spread by the flea beetle. Control is obtained by using resis- 

 tant varieties. 



