COLLEGE OF 

 AGRICULTURE 

 UNIVERSITY OF 

 ILLINOIS AT 

 URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 

 AND NATURAL 

 HISTORY SURVEY 

 URBANA. ILLINOIS 



MSECT WEED & PLANT DISEASE SURVEY BULLETIN 



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



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 



MAY 23 1973 



^l&lo^% H . 1, March 23, 1973 



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. 



GENERAL INFORMATION 



Farmers. Each year we urge people not to fill sprayers near wells. Keep the hose 

 from the well out of the spray tank- -back- siphoning can occur. Keep concentrates 

 away from wells. Do not drain sprayers near a well. 



Always wear gloves when handling pesticides. Never pour pesticides by holding a 

 container above your head. Always pour granules into hoppers so that the wind 

 will blow any dust away from you. Handle insecticides with care and respect. 



Follow all precautions in order to prevent problems. 



Homeowners. Store all pesticides out of the reach of small children. Read and 

 follow carefully the instructions and precautions on the label. 



INSECTS 



FORAGE INSECTS 



Alfalfa weevil development apparently is slightly earlier than last year. Eggs 

 are being deposited in southern Illinois in alfalfa stems, and there have been 

 some comparatively high egg counts. A few small larvae can be found commonly in 

 leaf buds and axils, but no high larval counts have been encountered as yet. It 

 is too early to predict the potential intensity of the infestation. 



CORN INSECTS 



European corn borer overwintering success has been near normal in the southern 

 half of Illinois, but only half to two-thirds normal in some areas of northern 

 Illinois. 



Southwestern corn borer winter survival apparently has been very low in extreme 

 southern Illinois. There are no live larvae in the field that was most heavily 

 infested last fall. 



HOMEOWNER INSECTS 



Eastern tent caterpillars began to hatch during the warm period in mid-March. 

 Their hatching and feeding activity was slowed down by the cooler temperatures 

 this past week. These caterpillars feed on wild cherry, willow, peach, apple, 



