a . tal 8 - 
THE WEST LAFAYETTE (IND.) FIELD STATION. 
SEASONAL REPORTS. 






















November 23, 1916. © 
The season of 1916 was remarkable for the scarcity of insect outbreaks in cereal 
forage crops in the nort central states. The most noticeable pest was the Hes- 
: fly which caused great loss to wheat in Illinois and Indiana, as far north as 
ude 41°, injuring the crop both in the fall of 1915 and spring of 1916. A re- 
survey shows a scarcity of the fly in central Indiana and Illinois although in 
uthern portions of these States heavy infestation occurs in early sown fields, 
in sOwings made after October 3 very few maggots are to be found and most of 
1686 will not mature and consequently will not survive the winter. The percentage 
; parasitism has not been determined and although doubtless greater than last year, 
3 Spring injury is likely to occur in localities where more or less wheat was sown 
. ‘Wheat generally is in good condition and fairly free from fly because in most 
ities very little of it was sown earlier than October 1 owing +o unfavorable 
6r conditions. This, together with the dry season which ‘checked the growth of 
teer wheat, have assisted materially in the reduction of fly infestation. The 
led fly-resistent wheat known as "Illini Chief" which has been grown and selected 
7 Mr. BH. L. Gillham, a Madison County, [Il1.] farmer for the past 9 years, seems 
Pomising for its fly-resistent qualities. Studies relating to it in Illinois are 
Ging made in cooperation with Dr. &. A. Forbes. 
i Other insécts which have been found and reported as causing very noticeable dam- 
fo the past season are the corn-stalk borer (Papaipema nitela) injuring oats, 
neat, “eye, corn and white sweet clover; cutworms (Noctua C-nigrum and Euxoa 
SSsoria) injuring corn and other crops; bill-bugs (Sphenophorus spp. ) injuring 
7 May becties (Lachnosterna spp.) defoliating trees; clover root-borer 
iy ylastinus obscurus); southern corn root worm (Diabrotica 12-punctata) 
sté acking corn roots and the adult beetles feeding on corn silk and preventing fer- 
lization of the ear; the western corn root worm (Diabrotica longicornis); a 
lack flea-beetle (Epitris sp.) injuring corn and the corn root-aphis (Aphis 
m idi-radicis). 
Besides investigating these and other insects injurious to cereal and forage 
‘Ops a@ resuming of the Hessian-fly problem has been initiated in Illinois, Indiana, 
ant: icky end Ohio. [Signed] John J. Davis. 
