The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-05-03
CLEMSON EXTENSION WORK

| $$S-S09$SS$S-S$ <o-S&SS$S-$S
| At this writing this. insect is caus-
ing much alarm among the farmers
of the State.
| The reason for this heavy outbreak
is due principally at least to the warm
weather of February. In normal sea-
sons this pest is kept well under con-
troll by its natural enemies, the most
important of these being parasitic
wasp. The work of this wasp is in
evidence in nearly every green bug
infested field. When examining infest-
ed oats or wheat, small spherical sta
tionary pimples of a brown or black
ish color are present. These repre-
sent lice that were killed by the para
site wasp. This wasp has very eff
ficient arrangement for laying its eggs
1T penetrates the body of the green
bug with it's egg guide and lays the
egg therein. This egg matches into a
small white grub which consumes the
inside of the green bug. thus killing it,
The wasp continues to utilize the dead
body as n pupa case in which the third
stage Of it's life history is passed
When full grown it perforates the wall
of this dead dried up bug and escapes
into the open.
1t is during abnormal weather con.
ditions when the parasite loses con-
troll OF the green bug. 1t is explained
as follows: The green bug breeds in
temperature ranging from 33 degrees
r to 80 degrees f. The parasite is.
however, hot weather bug and goes
at about 60 degrees F. 1t was the
warm weather of February that ena-
bled the green bug to reproduce rapid
ly, but the weather was not warm
enough for the parasite to become
very active. During this period of
freedom the green bug gained advan-
tage. The average life of the individ
ual green bug is about thirty-six days
and during this period the average
pro duction OF off springs is about
sixty. They give birth to living young
and these mature in seven days and
begin to reproduce by giving birth to
living young. When the food supply
becomes scarce in a given field. thew
greatly increase the number of wing
ed forms which migrate to other grain
fields.
Summarizing all the experimental
work of the past with view of con-
in o. 10 H. foNI
mendations, while not satisfactory to
us, are the most practical and effec-
tive.
l. When the infestation is first
noticed in the winter, during or after
warm spell. run n weeder over the
oats both ways. This may have to
be repeated, depending on weather
conditions
2 When the infestation has become
very serious, light brush tied together
and drawn over the grain dislodges
and destroys many of the green bugs.
). 1t is recommended that fields
badly damaged at present, considering
weather conditions, be plowed and
P'"A'('i " dllOlleT crop.
4. Where damage is light at this
time in given field in addition to the
above recommendations we believe
that stimulation with soda would save
the crop
.. If the land is very lcvel. roll
ing with heavy roller is profitable.
The above recommendations with
the exception of No. >. are intended
for grain that has not yet matted
Those measures are not profitable on
matted grain and the only thing to do
in that case is to Craze it with cattle
The trampling. as we'll as the grazing.
are destructive to the green bug.
This subject is under investigation
with the hope that something more
effective will develop.
a. +. Conradi.
State IIntomologist.