flight will occur during the next three weeks. Our survey of this area for first- 

 generation corn borers will not be completed until early next week. This will pro- 

 vide us an intensity index for the second generation. 



Fall armyworms are common throughout the southern half of Illinois, particularly 

 the southern third. These worms vary in size, but can be found in corn in the late- 

 whorl stage; also, in less mature corn. A number of plants in an area in the field 

 will usually be infested. 



These grey- to-brown, greasy- appearing worms can be found deep in the whorl, or even 

 feeding further out on the leaf. Ordinarily, you will find only one fall armyworm 

 deep in the whorl, since they are cannibalistic. 



We now find fall armyworms from small to full-grown, and we are finding moths. 



From this, we may anticipate a continuing infestation until fall. Fggs will be layed 



most commonly on pretassel corn, so watch these fields more than you do those that 

 are already tasseled out . 



We do not have adequate damage studies, but one hates to lose too much leaf surface 

 to worms. When 10 to 20 percent of the plants in a field show moderate leaf feed- 

 ing and the worms are half to three-quarters grown, you may want to apply carbaryl 

 (Sevin) , Gardona, or toxaphene. Sprays provide good control as long as they reach 

 the worms. If the worms are deeper in the whorl, granules (when available) will be 

 helpful. Usually, we discourage use of insecticides to control this pest, but cir- 

 cumstances this year are not ordinary. 



Corn earworms are usually found in one plant in a place. These worms are yellow, 

 green, or light brown. Whorl-feeding by this pest is usually not serious. Corn ear- 

 worm moths were observed flying in the fields in southern Illinois this week. Corn 

 in the silk stage, tomatoes, green beans, and possibly soybeans may be attacked by 

 this pest. Check all of these crops. Carbaryl sprays will be helpful in reducing in- 

 festations. 



W oolly bears are eating corn silks, but do not affect yields. 



Cat-tail caterpillars are orange, yellow, and brown bristly worms. They are now eat- 

 ing corn leaves. These caterpillars usually are eliminated by wasp parasites. 



Picnic beetles are common in field corn, and are literally packed in corn borer bur- 

 rows. Sometimes they are thick in the silk. So far, we have been unable to find that 

 they affect yields. These beetles do help drive European corn borers out of their 

 tunnels and expose them to the weather. 



SORGHUM INSECTS 



Sorghum web worms may be a problem on late -planted grain sorghum. Frequent inspections 

 should be made, beginning in the bloom stage and continuing until hard dough. The lar- 

 vae have a reddish- tan, dark-brown body with three darker lines down the back. They 

 gnaw circular holes in the grain. The mature larva are about half an inch long, and 

 are covered with closely spaced spines and fine hair. Carbaryl, diazinon, or malathi- 

 on are suggested when 25 percent of the heads are infested with five or more larvae 

 per head. 



Fall armyworms . Damage to sorghum by fall armyworms was observed in southern areas of 

 the state last week. The small larvae feed on the outer leaves. The larger worms feed 



