Cedar-lined chests are usually insect-tight, but all fabrics need to be insect- 

 free before storing. The cedar oil vapors destroy small larvae, but do not kill 

 the larger ones. So be sure the articles are free of insects before placing them 

 in cedar-lined chests. 



Good housekeeping practices will help reduce the number of fabric-eating insects. 

 Clean the house frequently to prevent lint and hair from accumulating- -especially 

 behind radiators, baseboards, and heating vents and in closets, as well as be- 

 neath large furniture and other hard-to-get -at places. If such places become in- 

 fested, a light application of a 0.5-percent spray of diazinon or Dursban will in- 

 sure protection. Keep children and pets away from the sprayed area until it is dry. 



BIRD PROBLEMS 



Dr. Glen Sanderson, Head of the Game Research and Management Section of the Illinois 

 Natural History Survey, prepared the following report to help answer questions we have 

 been receiving about the South American Parakeet, recently found in Illinois. 



The South American monk, Quaker, or gray-headed parakeet is a native of South America. 

 It is a medium-sized parakeet (length, 11.5 inches) that is greenish-gray above with a 

 lemon-yellow belly and quaker-gray forecrown, cheeks, forethroat, and breast with dark- 

 er margins to the feathers. The flight feathers are blue-gray, the tail is bluish- 

 green, and is long and pointed. The feet are dark. The bill is a rosy flesh color. 



In some areas of South America, flocks of this bird have damaged corn, sorghum, sun- 

 flowers, citrus fruits, and other fruits. In the U.S., this parakeet winters in sub- 

 urban areas, perhaps attracted to feeding stations provided by bird watchers. Dr. Rich- 

 ard R. Graber, ornithologist for the Natural History Survey, reports that to the best 

 of his knowledge there is a spotty and marginal populations from New England south to 

 Virginia and west to Illinois and Oklahoma. 



In 1968, about 12,000 of these birds were introduced into the U.S. and sold as pets. 

 A few new releases are probably made each week, as pet owners tire of the outlandish 

 screeching of these birds but are reluctant to kill their pets. At least one pair is 

 known to be nesting in Illinois; however, most of the reports that come from the gen- 

 eral public of parakeets at large in Illinois no doubt refer to the smaller Australian 

 shell parakeets . 



Thousands of these birds are released each year, mostly by accident. Although they can 

 survive in the southern states, there are few wild populations in this country, and per- 

 haps none that are maintaining themselves without additional releases each year. Monk 

 parakeets are not nearly so numerous , but are potentially much more dangerous because 

 they can be self-sufficient and can survive even in the northern states. They are ro- 

 bust and hardy. They would make good "starlings." At their present population level, 

 they only pose a potential threat for Illinois farmers and orchardists. The Section of 

 Wildlife Research at the Illinois Natural History Survey, Urbana (217/333-6870) would 

 like to know about any sightings of the monk parakeet in Illinois. We will verify as 

 many of the sightings as possible. 



WEEDS 



CONTROLLING WEEDS 



Controls . Weeds that have emerged can be controlled either chemically or mechanically. 

 Sometimes mechanical controls aren't enough. For example, shallow disking often does 



