1L-L 



COLLEGE OF 

 AGRICULTURE 

 UNIVERSITY OF 

 ILLINOIS AT 

 URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

 AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY SURVEY 

 URBANA. ILLINOIS 



NSECT, WEED & PLANT DISEASE SURVEY BULLETIN 



ATE/COUNTY/LOCAL GROUPS/U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE COOPERATING 



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 



No. 11, June 16, 1972 



This series of weekly bulletins -provides a general look at the insect, weed, and 

 plant disease situation (fruit and commercial vegetables excepted) , along with sug- 

 gested, abbreviated, control measures. Each individual should check his own fields 

 to determine local conditions . T< _ 



INSECTS ,.., 



INSECTICIDES ty'VER*,^ 



The recent ban on DDT, except for certain crops or in connection with public health 

 problems, announced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will have little or 

 no effect in Illinois, particularly on Illinois agriculture. In 1949, we began a 

 gradual phase-out of DDT in agriculture, discontinuing its use on dairy cattle and 

 in dairy barns. During the 1950 's, we began to use less-persistent compounds on 

 field, fruit, and vegetable crops. The last use of DDT in agricultural production 

 was in 1964, to control corn earworms and European corn borers on sweet corn. The 

 sweet corn producers of Illinois then changed to carbaryl, diazinon, and other less- 

 or non-persistent insecticides. 



As of January 1, 1970, the Interagency Committee on Pesticides banned the use of DDT 

 in Illinois, except by permit only. Since then, the Illinois Department of Public 

 Health has issued a limited number of permits for the use of DDT inside structures 

 to control bats and in a few cases to control mice. The Illinois Department of Ag- 

 riculture has issued one commercial permit for the control of the geranium plume 

 moth, an imported pest, in one greenhouse in Illinois. No other insecticide would 

 control that pest. 



Essentially, Illinois put into practice in 1970 the directive issued this past week 

 by the Federal E.P.A. For this reason, that directive will have practically no ef- 

 fect on Illinois citizens. 



CORN INSECTS 



Black cutworms are decreasing throughout Illinois. With the exception of a few late 

 infestations, little continued damage is expected unless a second generation devel- 

 ops, which is rare. In most instances, the carbaryl -apple pomace pellets were ef- 

 fective in control. Our biggest problem was to find the infestation early enough to 

 gain maximum benefit from the use of the bait. 



Corn rootworm larvae have now been found as far north as Belvidere. Basal applica- 

 tions can be made if needed. Examine corn plant roots and adjacent soil carefully. 

 Finding only one or two rootworms per plant this early may justify an application 

 if you did not use an insecticide at planting time. Use BUX, carbofuran, Dasanit, 

 Dyfonate, or phorate at one pound of the actual chemical per acre. 



