A dormant oil spray will help control San Jose, Putnam, and tulip tree scales and over- 

 wintering red mite eggs. Purchase a dormant oil and mix it with water, according to 

 manufacturers' directions on the label. Do not apply when temperatures are below 40° F. 

 or if new growth is present. Do not use on evergreens. For later treatments to control 

 scales, apply a malathion water-base spray. Time the treatments at peak hatch when the 

 scales are in the crawler stage. This will vary with the type of scale and the location 

 in the state . 



Spring cankerworms , dark-brown to dark-green measuring worms, will be feeding soon on trees 

 like American elm and apple as well as other fruit and shade trees. They attack early, 

 feeding on developing leaf buds and newly developing leaves. Sometimes they completely 

 strip a tree of foliage while other trees are only partly defoliated. When full-grown, 

 the worms drop to the ground by means of silken threads that appear like streamers in the 

 wind. By this time, it is usually too late for control. 



Use either carbaryl (Sevin) with 2 pounds of 50-percent wettable powder or lead arsenate 

 with 4 pounds in 100 gallons of water. 



You can control soil insects in your vegetable garden by applying diazinon at 1 ounce per 



1,000 square feet before planting. To do this, mix 1/4-pint (4 fluid ounces) of 25 -percent 



diazinon liquid concentrate in enough water (usually 2 to 3 gallons) to cover 1,000 square 

 feet, then rake into the soil. 



Flies are becoming a nuisance again in many homes. These are mainly cluster flies, but 

 face flies, flesh flies, and bottle flies are also present. They have overwintered in the 

 partitions and other recesses within the home. On warm, sunny days they become active. 

 Those that are unable to get outdoors end up indoors, usually congregating around windows. 



The best control is provided by using 20-percent dichlorvos (DDVP) resin strips. Place 

 these strips in attics, basements, and other fly- infested rooms. One strip per 1,000 

 cubic feet (about one per average -size room) is effective for about 6 weeks. As an 

 added precaution, hang the strips out-of -reach of children and away from fish bowls or 

 food counters. An 0.1 -percent pyre thrum or 0.5 -percent dichlorvos (DDVP) space spray, 

 applied from a pressurized spray can, can be used for quick knockdown in place of the 

 dichlorvos resin strips. Apply for 15 to 20 seconds in an average-size room. Frequent 

 treatments will be needed during problem periods. Remove all birds, fish, and other pets 

 before making the application. 



WEEDS 

 Treat Musk Thistle In April 



Several areas of Illinois have a new weed called "musk" or "nodding thistle." The thistle 

 thrives in pasture land and other noncultivated areas . 



Musk thistle is a biennial, requiring two years from seedling to seed. The first year, 

 a basal rosette of coarsely lobed, spiny leaves forms. During the second year, the 

 flower and seed head develop. Infestations may not be noticed until the second year; it 

 is then that the plants produce their tall, upright flower stalks- -usually during May. 

 Unfortunately, it is too late for the most effective control by that time. 



April is the best time to treat musk thistle. The weed is still in the rosette stage, and 

 the musk thistle is quite susceptible to 2,4-D. But, the plant builds up a tolerance to 

 2,4-D after the flower stalk forms. Also, control is usually better when the temperature 

 is above 75° F. and when the plant is growing actively. 



