A disease of clover leaf weevil in epidemic form can eliminate this pest as a problem, whe 

 the weather is warm and "muggy." The first indication of this disease is when the normall 

 green larvae appear yellow, then brown. The dead and dying larvae cling to the stems and 

 leaves . 



If the weevils are dying, no insecticide is needed. If severe feeding is taking place, a 

 spray of 1 pound of malathion per acre (or mixtures of malathion or diazinon and methoxych 

 will reduce the insect population and allow the plants to grow. Malathion alone is most 

 effective when the air temperature is 60° F. or above. 



HOMEOWNER INSECTS 



Now that spring yard work has begun, many questions are coming in about insect pests on 

 ornamental plants. Euonymus scales , common on several shrubs like winter creeper, and 

 euonymus evergreen ground cover may be confused with insect eggs . Saw dust castings from 

 borers in the trunks of trees and shrubs can be found on the bark or accumulating at the 

 base of the trunk. Although nothing can be done to control these pests now, a spray of 

 malathion after the eggs of these scales hatch will be helpful --about early June in the 

 central section of the state. The tunnels of the borers can be probed with a wire to kill 

 the borers, or dimethoate sprays can be used later to prevent reinfestation. But right 

 now is the time to pick last year's bagworms from the evergreens or other trees and burn 

 them. About half of these bags will be full of eggs that will hatch in 4 to 8 weeks, then 

 the small worms will begin to devour the needles. The more eggs you destroy now by pulling 

 off the bags, the easier it will be to control the bagworms later. 



As you rake the old leaves around shrubs and the foundation of the house, you may find 

 adult elm- leaf beetles and lady beetles . The elm-leaf beetle has a brownish-black body 

 with yellow stripes on the wings. The yellow elm-leaf beetle larvae will appear later on 

 Chinese elms. They skeletonize these leaves. No control of the wintering adults is needec 

 Lady beetles are yellow, orange, or red insects, hemispherical in shape, with black spots.: 

 They are beneficial, since they eat other insects. 



Clover mites appeared in great numbers this week. They have spent the winter under the 

 siding of the house and in other protected areas. These minute brown or orange mites are 

 present by the thousands on the sides of some houses, and often appear in huge numbers 

 inside the windowsills. Use a vacuum sweeper to collect them inside the house or spray 

 with a pressurized spray can containing 0.1 -percent pyrethrin or 0.5 -percent dichlorvos 

 (DDVP) . Spray on the outside of the house and along the foundation with 1 -ounce of dicofol 

 (Kelthane 18.5 W) or 4 ounces of chlorobenzilate per 3 gallons of water. Later this spring 

 remove the grass and weeds next to the foundation for a strip 18 inches wide and plant this 

 in flowers. Very few clover mites will cross this 18-inch barrier in the fall. 



Winged ants , often confused with termites, are now appearing in large swarms. Under Illi- 

 nois conditions, if the body of the insect is yellow, red, or brown, it is almost certain 

 to be an ant. If the winged insect is black, it could be a swarming termite. If the wings 

 have many veins and there is no waist in the middle of the body, it is usually a termite. 



For identification contact your county Extension adviser, a local pest-control operator, 

 or send the insect to 280 Natural Resources Building, Urbana, Illinois 61801, and we will 

 identify it. 



