Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-05-16
is ENEMY OF CORN RAISER
Root Aphis Is a Peculiar Insect,
Often Very Destructive
to Maize Crop.

IN many parts of the corn belt con-
siderable damage is done to the corn
crop each year by the insect known
as the corn root aphis. 1t is considered
one or the worst enemies of the corn
raiser, but when it's life habits are I'M
derstood it can be kept under control
ana resulting damage reduced to a
minimum. The insect is blush green,
slightly whitened by a waxy bloom.
The presence of ants burrowing
about the young corn plants in the
neld will apprise the farmer of the
presence of the corn root aphis, for the
two are found together the aphides
being helpless without the presence of
the ants. The damage to the corn
plant is not done. however, by the ants.
as many farmers suppose. but by the
ant cow" or corn root aphis.
The eggs of the aphis are laid in
the fall and are cared for by the ants
during the winter, they shifting them
about as they do their own eggs. In
the spring when they hatch the young,
which are all females, are carried out
to pasture. as it We're, on the roots of
young foXtail grass, smart weed and
even ragWeed. During bad weather
or on cold nights the ants carry them
back to their burrows. The weeds
mentioned are those usually found in
the last years corn land When, how
ever, the corn is planted and it begins
to come up the ants carry the aphides
to the corn roots and colonize them
there. These young aphides soon begin
to give birth to living young, all fe-
males, which the ants care for. They
are placed on the freshest and most
tender rootlets of the plant. In con-
slderation of their tender care the aph-
ldes secrete a sweet fluid known as
honey dew" This has led the aphides
to being called the ants cows.
AS remedies for this pest rotation
OF crops and good cultivation are i'm
portant. The soil should be stirred
we'll after blowing, being sure to get
rid of all weeds and keep stirring it
until the first cultivation of the crop,
so as to prevent the ants from col
onizing. Late fall or winter blowing is
also recommended. Where ground has
been fertilized with barnyard manure
the corn root aphis does not become
SO destructive.
DR.. Forbes of the Illinois experiment
station has secured good results from
treating the seed with some strong
smelling solution to drive the ants
away. His treatment is as follows:
The substance found most effective
for the treatment of seed corn was a
mixture of oil of lemon and wood alco-
hol. To one gallon of wood alcohol add
one pint of oil of lemon and sprinkle
and thoroughly stir three fluid ounces
that is to say, six tablespoonfuls-o
this mixture into each gallon of corn
shortly before planting, making sure
that the fluid is equally distributed and
that each kernel of corn has it's proper
share. thorough stirring after the
application of the mixture is all that is
necessary. The odor of this compound,
which will last for weeks in the ground,
is extremely offensive to the cornfield
ant, and these insects will not enter
corn hills as long as it continues. AS
the root lice cannot get access to the
corn or maintain themselves there ex-
cept by the aid of the ants, the hills
remain virtually free from both insects
for at least six weeks.
The wood alcohol should not cost
more than 81 a gallon nor the oil of
lemon more than 50 a pint, and the
above amount of the mixture will be
sufficient to treat the seed for forty-
five acres. making cost for materials
or less than 10 cents per acre Care
should be taken to buy these sub
stances from thoroughly reliable drug
gists, the oil of lemon especially being
subject to adulteration. If the mixture
is not entirely clear when shaken I'D
the materials are impure