HOMEOWNER INSECTS 



Garden soil insects (including wireworms, seed and root maggots, and white grubs) . 

 These can be controlled by mixing 1 ounce actual diazinon or 4 ounces of diazinon 

 25-percent liquid concentrate per 1,000 square feet of garden area. Apply as a 

 broadcast treatment to the soil surface prior to planting, and thoroughly mix the 

 chemical into the top 4 to 8 inches of soil. Do not use aldrin, heptachlor, or 

 other insecticides that are labeled for corn- soil insect control. 



Ornamental and lawn pests . Now that spring yard work has begun, questions are 

 coming in about insect pests on ornamental plants. Euonymous scales , common on 

 shrubs like winter creeper and euonymous evergreen ground cover, may be confused 

 with insect eggs. Although nothing can be done to control these pests now, spraying 

 with malathion after the eggs of these scales hatch will be helpful- -in late May for 

 pine needle and sweet gum scale ; in early June for scurfy , oysters he 11 , and euonymous 

 scale ; and in early July for cottony maple , Juniper , and dogwood scales . 



Sawdust from borers in the trunks of trees and shrubs can be found on the bark or 

 accumulating at the base of the trunk. The tunnels of the borers can be probed with 

 a wire to kill the borers, or dimethoate sprays (25-percent De-Fend W.P.) or Cygon 2E 

 can be used in late May or early June. Wrapping the trunks of newly set trees with 

 heavy paper for two years, or until the trees are growing vigorously, will help pre- 

 vent attacks by borers. 



Now is a good time to pick off last year's bagworms from the evergreen or other trees 

 and destroy them. About half of these bags are full of eggs that will hatch within 

 four to eight weeks. The more eggs that are destroyed now, the easier it 'will be to 

 control the bagworms later. 



Last fall's damage to lawns by the sod webworm is ancient history. It is too early 

 to take action against the damaging second-generation, which hits in early August. 

 However, a vigorous, well-fertilized lawn is the best plan of attack to ward off 

 damage by the first generation. 



Fruit and shade trees . For those with a few fruit trees, Circular 1001 "Home Or- 

 chard Pest Control" shows the spray schedules for apple, peach, cherry, pear, ap- 

 ricot, and other fruit trees. This circular is available at the office of the county 

 Extension adviser, or from the Office of Agricultural Publications, 123 Mumford 

 Hall, Urbana 61801. 



Maple bladder galls are small, wartlike growths on the upper surface of leaves of 

 young silver or soft maple trees. These galls are caused by mites that overwinter 

 in the buds of the trees. When leaves begin to emerge in the spring, these mites 

 infest the new leaves. Control is rarely necessary, since these galls will seldom 

 damage the tree or its branches. If chemical control is attempted, timing the spray 

 with the emergence of the new leaves will increase the chances for success. Use 

 malathion, 57-percent liquid concentrate, at the rate of 1 cup per 25 gallons of 

 water. 



WEEDS 



NUTSEDGE--A TOUGH NUT TO CRACK 



Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) , often called nutgrass, is becoming a serious 

 weed problem in many areas of Illinois. It is a sedge (triangular stem and three- 

 ranked leaves) rather than a true grass (round stem and two-ranked leaves) . 



