The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-08-09
Ill ARMY WORM"
Or .Grass NOrm."-ItS Present Stat
us.-ClemSOn Extension Article
No. 81.

The following bulletin attempts to
handle only the important points in
connection with the damage of the
pest, and it's control. Any further in
formation desired will be cheerfully
supplied upon request to the division
of entomology, Clemson College, S. c.
1t is we'll to impress the fact that
the insect about which there is so
much current excitement is not the
same as the cotton leaf worm or cater
pillar which was present in the cotton
fields last fall. There are at present
so far as specimens sent in and in
vestigations made by this division
show, no cotton caterpillars in this
State, though they are doing damage
in lower Alabama and Georgia. The
cotton caterpillar is injurious only to
cotton; the grass worm does damage
more general in character-to grass,
corn, peas, cotton, etc. This latter
insect is doing considerable damage
over almost the entire South; so this
State is not alone sustaining the eff
fects of its ravages.
The preferred food of the fall army
or grass worm is grass, such as crab
grass, bermuda, water grass, etc. The
pest is present every year, but un-
noticed. The wealth of grass due to
lack of proper CULTURE last fall and
spring has given it this year unexcell-
ed opportunities for breeding. The al
most total absence of it's natural enc
mics also promotes the marked in
crease in numbers this season over
previous seasons of recent years. They
have reached such enormity of num-
bers that there has been a shortage
of the preferred food and the pest has
been forced to migrate to the adjoin-
| ing corn and cotton fields to make its
living there and to carry on its de-
Istructive damage in so doing. The
worm begins its work in bottom lands,
and at first appears in the grass. Here
it can be most easily controlled, by
deep turning of the grass and worm, or
thorough spraying or busting of these
acres with arsenate of lead according
to directions given below.
The third generation of worms is
now entering the ground to change
into moths. These deposit eggs, which
Matching in very short time, will pro-
duce another generation Of worms Tt
is well to bear this fact in mind; for
the apparent cessation of injury is
due to this cause.
On the first appearance of the worn
the farmer should dust the infested
areas with powdered .arsenate Of lead,
undiluted, using three pounds of pois-
on to the acre. 1t is best to make the
application when the leaves are moist
with dew, as is generally the case ear
! 1y in the morning. Arsenate Of lead
/ paste may be used in the form of a
spray the strength of two to three
pounds of arsenate to fifty gallons of
water, with the addition of three
pounds of unslaked lime. Paris green
also viii poison the worms but it is
not safe to use since even if extreme
care is exercised in the dilutiof and
| application of it, serious damage of
foliage from burning often results,
sometimes not becoming apparent un-
til three or four weeks afterwards.
Powdered arsenate of lead is about as
cheap, sticks to the leaf better, and
can be used undiluted without burning
| the foliage. 1t would be no mistake,
even in the case of this, however, to
add small quantity of air dry, slaked
lime, to neutralize any free acid pres
ent in the substance, since it is this
acid that does the burning.
Where Poison Can be Secured.
The powdered arsenate of lead can
be secured from your nearest focal
druggist. If he does not have it in