MISC. PUBLICATION 62 6, XJ. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



adults of most parasites are either tiny 

 wasplike insects or small flies. These 

 predatory and parasitic insects are 

 among our best friends, since they aid 

 materially in reducing the damage 

 caused by injurious pests. 



GENERAL PLANT PESTS 



Although many insects attack only 

 one crop or a group of related plants, 

 some of them attack almost any kind of 

 vegetation, including the various an- 

 nuals, perennials, and shrubs. Some 

 examples of these general feeders are 

 discussed in this section. Also included 

 here are the soil insects and other 

 ground-inhabiting pests found around 

 various kinds of plants. 



CUTWORMS 



Cutworms are caterpillars that are 

 seldom seen because they usually re- 

 main hidden during the day under clods 

 of earth or in the topsoil. In the even- 

 ing they emerge and feed by cutting off 

 small plants (fig. 2) at or near the ground 



Figure 2. — Plant damaged by cutworm. 

 Inset, spotted cutworm in curled posi- 

 tion, about natural size. 



line. They are specially destructive in 

 the spring to growing plants in the seed- 

 bed and to small transplants that have 

 just been set out. Cutworms attack a 

 wide range of plants, including aster, 

 carnation, dahlia, geranium, rose, zin- 

 nia, and many others. A few species 

 climb such plants as chrysanthemums, 

 dahlias, and sweet peas, and feed on the 

 foliage or bore into the developing 

 flower bud in much the same manner as 

 the corn earworm (p. 29). Plants are 

 usually ruined overnight or are fed upon 

 to such an extent that they wither and 

 die. A single cutworm can kill several 

 plants in a night. 



The cutworms are smooth, plump 

 caterpillars, gray or brownish, and 1 to 2 

 inches in length when full grown. They 

 hatch from eggs laid late in the summer 

 by brownish moths. By late fall they 

 are nearly full grown and bury them- 

 selves in the ground for protection 

 during the winter. 



Among the common species are the 

 spotted cutworm (Amathes c-nignim 

 (L.)), the black cutworm (Amathes 

 ypsilon (Kott.)), and the variegated 

 cutworm (Peridrom a morgaritosa (Haw.)). 



Treatment. — A poisoned bait, such 

 as the one described below, scattered 

 about the infested areas, is one of the 

 best remedies. 



Large quantities Small quantities 

 Sodium fluosilicate or 



paris green 4 ounces. 2 teaspoonfuls. 



Dry wheat bran 1 peck or 5 1 quart. 



pounds. 

 Water (to moisten).. 3 to 4 quarts. 1 pint. 



Mix the poison and dry bran thor- 

 oughly. Then moisten the mixture with 

 water until each flake of bran has been 

 wetted, using only enough liquid to make 

 a crumbly mass. Prepare the bait in 

 the morning to permit the bran to take 

 up the arsenic, and apply it late in the 

 day so that it will be moist and attrac- 

 tive when the cutworms begin to feed in 

 the evening. Scatter the bait thinly 

 over the ground or about the bases of 

 the plants that have been set out. 

 Repeat the treatment if necessary. One 

 quart of the prepared bait is adequate 

 for treating a garden 50 by 50 feet in 

 size. 



On soil which has been in sod, or 

 which was weedy, the previous season, it 

 is well to apply poison bait as insurance 

 against cutworms, especially before 

 setting out plants or before the plants 

 appear above ground. 



Caution. — As this bait is poisonous, 

 children, livestock, and poultry should 

 be kept away from it. 



Where the bait is spread thinly over 

 the ground, and not in the form of 

 lumps, there is little danger of its being 

 picked up by birds and pets in sufficient 

 quantity to become poisoned. Any 

 particles of the material which adhere 

 to tender plants should be dislodged to 

 avoid injury. 



In small gardens hand picking is often 

 effective. The cutworms usually may 

 be found during the day in a curled 

 position (fig. 2) just below the surface 

 of the ground within 3 or 4 inches of the 

 cut plants. Plants may be protected 



