Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-03-10
rHE wHEAr srRAw WORN.

dies.
THE WHEAT STRAW WORM.
Last year the presence of this pest
was reported from about one-fourth
of the counties of the state, the insect
being especially prevalent In central
and western Kansas. The worm has
only been recognized as an insect in
furious to wheat since 1880, since
which tune observations by various
investigators have fully revealed its
work.
The life history of this pest Is,
briefly, as follows: In March and
April adults issue from the last years
wheat straws either IN stubble or vol
iunteer or in the stack, and lay their
eggs on the tender leaves of the grow
ing wheat, The larvae, on Matching,
burrow into the stem, pupate, and
soon mature, the adults emerging in
the latter part of May and the early
part of June. These adults lay their
eggs in the now maturing wheat, and
another brood of destructive larvae
matches. These larvae pupate in the
straws either in stubble or stack be-
fore winter, and pass the winter in
the pupal stage. The following spring
the adults appear and a new cycle is
begun. The insect Is thus two-brood-
ed.
The injury to the wheat occurs
while the insect is in the larVal stage
The larvae are provided with strong
Jaws with which they knaw the fibre
of the stem near a node or joint. ar
resting the proper flowing of the sap
to the head. As a consequence the
| l. ~ 81
and they ripen prematurely. The
wheat plant itself Is often stunted in
growth. The larvae occur in all parts
of the stem but most often, by far, in
the straw just above the second node
or joint below the head.
As previously mentioned the Wheat
straw Worm was especially prevalent
last year in central and western Kan
sas. Farmers in the wheat counties of
this portion of the state should i'm
mediately inspect the straws IN their
stacks, and if the insect is found
should burn all left over straw. Be-
cause of the many reports received
last year from Barton, Russell, Os-
horne, Rice, Ellsworth, Rush and
Lincoln counties. it is undoubtedly
advisable that all stubble and remain
ing straw In these counties be burned.
1t Is an easy matter to determine
the presence of the pest. Straws
from suspected field should be gath
cred and split down the middle line;
the larvae if present will be found as
a small white grub in the straw, prob
1 ably near a node. Or, if the exami-
t nation is made near the time of the
| emergence of the adult, the pupa will
, be found lying snugly in its cell.
Straws from stubble and stack should
3 be carefully inspected.
S It is the especial object of this bull
l letin to call the attention of the Kan
sas wheat growers to the work which
should be done now. There should
be no delay in destroying infested
straw, as in a few weeks, if not days,
the adults will be emerging from the
straws. Not only will Immediate ac-
! ton on the part of the farmers be GER
tainly valuable with reference to next
July's harvest, but it will do much to-
3 ward Kidding the state of this pest fol-
! future years. For in the Wheat
, straw Worm we have to deal with q
pest which by concerted action on the
part of those interested may be kept
thoroughly In control, or even com
pletely stamped out
THE AUGoUMoIs GRAIN MOTH
This insect is one of the pests which
attack stored grain, especially wheat
: and corn. 1t is a most formidable
4 pest in the south, but its injuries are
: less severe as we go north. It haE
. been reported to us this winter from
several places in Kansas, and it may
come to be, if it is not already, a ser
!, ious pest IN Kansas granaries and
t bins. In Kansas probably four Oh
five broods are produced in a year
Because of this rapid multiplication
the insect may do much damage in 1
short time.
i phe adult insect is a small mott
4 about one-fourth of an inch in length
from head to tips of closed wings. anC
about one-half an inch from tip to tn
of expanded wings.
8 1t is not, of course, in the adult OF
; moth stage that the insect commits it
p depredations, and the presence of tn,
! pest will be more readily determined
i by an examination of the grain kern
Q els for larval or pupal forms than b!
f a search for the moths. In infested
o grain many kernels will be found eacl
having a small but conspicuous hole
Many kernels may be attacked, how
o ever, which do not show these holes
: If some of the suspected grain b.
O thrown into water, the infested kern
n els will float. The inside starchy
portion of the kernels has been eater
away by the grub or larva, leavIn,
only shell of greater or less thick
ness.
The moths fly about at night, la,
their eggs either on the standing
% grain In the fields. or on stored grail
q IN the bins and cribs. If the gram il
infected with the grain moth Their
l. will be apparent upon examining
=. split open kernel either one or NOR
70 small, white, brown-headed worms
with nine pairs Of legs, or a brown
Z. mummy-like pupa or chrysalis witt
q wing pads, long feelers and legs close
, ~ pressed against the body. The tw
> large black eyes are plainly visible il
Il the pupa, or there may be found tn
perfect moth with folded wings read
n to emerge from the kernel.
The vapor from BIsulphide of Car
bon destroys the insects A simpl
method of applying the remedy
9. that of soaking with it ball of cottoi
e fastened to the end of pole. Tn
soaked cotton may now be pushed in
Q. to the grain. Two or three applica
5. tions of this kind in different place
: in the bin will effectually destroy al