STORED GRAIN INSECTS 



Indian meal moth and other stored grain insect populations are increasing in stored 

 wheat. Within the next 2 or 5 weeks some of these infested bins will be a snowstorm 

 of moths with extensive webbing on the surface. Now is the time to apply that mid- 

 summer surface treatment to prevent Indian meal moth damage and apply malathion or 

 pyrethrin as a spray over the surface grain. On many farms, this insect has developed 

 resistance to the commonly used protectant insecticide, malathion. 



Malathion is still effective against the remainder of the insect complex (about twelve 

 important ones) that attacks stored wheat. Satisfactory protection on most farms 

 should still be realized through a continued use of malathion in a complete control 

 program that involves (1) bin cleanup, (2) bin spraying, (3) spraying the grain as 

 it is placed in storage [liquid spray treatment preferred to dust treatment] , and 

 (4) two surface treatments- -one at the conclusion of storage and one in early- to 

 mid- August. 



HOMEOWNER PROBLEMS 



Oystershell scale . Egg-hatch is complete in the central and southern sections of 

 Illinois. This is the second generation of this scale, and the buildup may be heavy. 

 The young crawlers like to set up housekeeping on lilac, dogwood, birch, and other 

 shrubs and trees. They suck juices from the plant and, if abundant, can seriously 

 retard growth and even kill the plants. The crawlers are very small and whitish in 

 color. Spray infested shrubs thoroughly with malathion, using 2 teaspoons of 50- 

 to 57-percent concentrate per gallon of water. Target dates for spraying are August 

 14 in the central section and August 21 in the northern section. 



Fall webworms . They are defoliating certain trees- -especially birch, ash, and elms. 

 These pale-green or yellow worms (with a dark stripe down the back and a yellow stripe 

 along each side) spin a web over the ends of the branches and skeletonize the leaves 

 inside. They extend the web to take in fresh foliage. The damaged leaves curl, turn 

 brown, and dry up. For control, spray with carbaryl, using 2 tablespoons of the 50- 

 percent wettable powder per gallon of water. 



Yellow-necked caterpillars . These have been observed feeding on pin oak, birch, apple, 

 pear, and other forest trees. These black- and-yel low- striped caterpillars, up to 2 

 inches long with yellow rings around their necks, are gregarious and will feed in 

 colonies on the leaves of trees. Small trees or single branches of large trees may 

 be completely defoliated. For control, prune away and burn the infested branches, 

 or spray with malathion. 



Cicada killers . They have been observed burrowing in lawns. These are very large 

 wasps, approximately 1-1/2 inches long, with a yellow-and-black body. The female 

 wasps construct nests in the lawn by throwing up a mound of earth into the entrance 

 of each hole. In some instances, burrowing in the lawn may be extensive. The female 

 wasp will subdue the large dogday cicada with a sting and drag the paralyzed cicada 

 to the previously prepared hole in the soil. The wasp deposits an egg on the body 

 of the cicada, which hatches into a larva that feeds on the cicada. 



Although formidable, these wasps are not vicious and will not attack humans. They 

 can, however, inflict a terrific sting if handled and squeezed. If control is 

 necessary spray the nests at night with carbaryl or chlordane and cover the en- 

 trance with a shovelful of moist soil after treatment. 



