Lady beetles and their young eat aphids. It takes two to five per plant to make in- 

 roads into the aphid population. As the lady beetles consume the aphids, the beetles 

 will migrate to other crops. This will help control the aphids. 



Greenbugs , a stubby- looking aphid, may be found on sorghum. This one has a prominent 

 dark stripe down its back. It can damage sorghum. Malathion or diazinon will provide 

 control . 



LIVESTOCK INSECTS 



Face fly populations remain high, but the number of horn flies has decreased. (See 

 Bulletin No. 13, June 25, 1971, for detailed control recommendations.) 



HOMEOWNER INSECTS 



Mimosa webworms are now numerous. The leaves on some locust and mimosa trees are turn- 

 ing brown. These worms can be found rolled up in the damaged leaves. Sprays of car- 

 baryl (Sevin) or malathion will control them. 



Flea beetles are common on egg plants and tomatoes nin home gardens. These tiny, black 

 beetles jump quickly when disturbed. Sprays of carbaryl or malathion will provide con- 

 trol. 



SPECIAL NOTE TO CANNERS 



Corn borer moths will soon be flying and depositing eggs. This is earlier than usual. 

 Corn earworm moths are now appearing in light traps in the East St. Louis area. This 

 is also earlier than usual. 



WEEDS 



AVOID 2,4-D DURING CRITICAL GROWTH STAGES 



Most 2,4-D labels state: "Do not apply from tasseling to dough stage." This warning 

 is apparently based on early research which showed that spraying at certain, critical 

 stages might interfere with grain development. 



In one Iowa study, 2,4-D was sprayed on corn plants at various stages. Applying 2,4-D 

 when the tassels were beginning to emerge inhibited the development of ear shoots. Ap- 

 plying 2,4-D one to four days before silk emergence caused severe inhibition of seed 

 set on the developing ear. 



Each year, 2,4-D causes some brittleness and breakage of corn, onion- leafing, and mal- 

 formation of brace roots. But we have received few reports of 2,4-D affecting ear and 

 grain development. This may be partly because most farmers take precautions to avoid 

 spraying during the critical period, use more- resistant hybrids, and apply only mini- 

 mal amounts of 2,4-D directly to the corn leaves. 



Still, the safe thing to do is to avoid spraying 2,4-D during critical growth stages- - 

 especially during the early development of ear shoots. There is apparently less risk 

 of injury from 2,4-D when the silks are drying after fertilization. However, ferti- 

 lization is followed by a period of rapid nutrient uptake and a movement of food ma- 

 terials to the grain. Stress conditions or any kind of injury during this stage could 

 interfere with normal kernel development. 



