Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-07-17
chineh Bugs.

chinch Bugs.
AS many inquiries are coming to
the Experiment Station concerning
chinch-bugs and the means OF com
batting them, this circular of instruc-
tions has been prepared to give in
brief the methods now recommended
for use against chinch- bugs and to COR
rect a general misconception concern
ing their fungus diseases.
Regarding the fungus diseases OF
the chinch-bug, entomologists gener-
ally do not longer place faith in them
as reliable means of combating the
chinch-bug. Prof. Lugger concurred
with the other entomologists of the
country in this opinion before his
death. That the disease did some
times work wonders is very true, but
long experience showed itto be pecul-
iarly uncertain and irregular and not
to be depended upon. It is universally
conceded that wet weather is required
for its growth, but given the wet
weather, its growth and effectiveness
are still very uncertain. Hence no
distribution of disease spores is being
made this season.
We do not know of any means of
killing the chinch-bugs in the grain.
They may, however, be trapped and
killed without great deal of labor as
they leave the grain at or before har-
vest time, to attack the corn. A
method of farming which allows the
chinch-bugs matured in the grain to
escape to corn6elds and there to thrive
on your substance, is an unnecessarily
expensive one and provides for con-
tinuation of the difficulty on a larger
scale, during the next season.
AS the bugs leave the grain field
plow a couple of burrows in front of
them to protect your corn. Now drag
a small round log back and forth in
this soft earth till you have q very
dusty furrow with sides as steep as
dust will lie. Now bore post holes
along the bottom of this furrow at
intervals of rod or such matter.
The sides of the furrow may be trimmed
up with hoe whenever it is neces-
sary. The bugs will pile into; the
furrow and try to cross it but the
crumbling dust encountered in climb
ing the far side soon discourages them
and they travel along the bottom of
the furrow. They collect in large
quantities in the post holes and may
there be killed by means of kerosene
or hot water or such other means as
may be convenient. This dusty furrow
idea, with various notifications, is q
very ancient one and antedates econo.
mic entomology. AS . means Of com.
batting the chinch-bug it has never
been much improved. In wet weather
this dusty furrow is an imp6ssibility
At such times we check the movements
OF bugs by means of a tar line. Take
sprinkling can without the rose, or
some similar vessel and pour line OF
coal-tar along the ground in front OF
the bugs. The fat bottom of furrow
at the edge of the field makes good
even place to put the tar line. The
bugs will not cross this tar line while
it remains sticky and an occasional
renewal will keep it effective. Bore
post holes along the inside of this line
and the bugs will pile into them as in
the case of q dusty furrow.
1t the bugs have reached the outer
rows OF the corn they may be stopped
there by either of these two methods
and the bugs on the outer rows of corn
may be killed with kerosene emulsion.
Pure kerosene will kill the corn as well
as the bugs, but it may be made into
an emulsion with soap and waterwhich
will not injure the corn. The emulsion
should be applied with q sprinkler OF
sprayer. 1t is made as follows: Dis.
solve ! ID. soap in one gallon of water
by boiling. Remove the soap from
stove and add two gallons of kerosene.
It Is now necessary to agitate this
mixture violently for about twenty
minutes. It is not enough to stir it.
It must be vigorously pumped back
and forth with force pump or spraye1
till it is as thick as rich cream. II
you have made good emulsion it will
stand for weeks without the oil separat.
ing from the water. This stock emul.
sion should be mixed with fifteen parts
Of water just before using in the field.
Clean farming generally discourages
the chinch.bugs. They live over winter
in the mature state and hibernate in
thick grass along headlands, in thick.
cts, under old straw stacks and hay
stacks, under corn shocks and rubbish
heaps, and in all the untidy corners o.
the farm. The grain fields nearest
to the winter quarters of the bugs will
in all probability, be the first to be
infested the following spring.
Very truly yours,
e. B. FORBES,
Acting State Entomologist
4 Coed Example to Follow.