Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1914-07-25
SEVERE MEASURES
FOR WHEAT REST
lnconspcuous Insect that Causes
Large Annual Loss of
Grain

nual loss in this country of thous-
ands Of bushels of wheat and known
as the "oat aphis" can scarcely he
controlled when once it has ggotten
however, serious outbreaks can be
prevented. This insect often es-
capes notice but it is probably the
most widely distributed Of the i'm
portant Of the plant lice which at
tack wheat and oats, and it's depro-
dations are only excelled by the so.
called green bug" How the oat
aphis may be conbated by destruc-
ton of it's breeding places, by cul-
tural methods and by spraying is out
lined in bulletin ono. 112) shortly
to be issued by the United States De-
partment Of agriculture.
AS the Oat aphis does not ordinar-
lily appear suddenly in great swarms
as does the green bug" it has never
been considered a pest Of great i'm
portance. 1t is easily overlooked by
the casual observer, especially in the
fall when it occurs at the base of the
plants and on the roots However,
1t s usually always present on the
wheat and observations lead ilvesti-
gators to consider that these para
sites weaken the plants and decrease
the yield to an important etent, even
though they may not be- conspicu-
Gus, AID the decrease in yield not
enough to be recognizable as in the
case Of the green bug"
Pictures Of the pest and detailed
description Of it's appearance are
found in the new bulletin The adult
Wingless insect is about the size OF
pin head and is yellowish green to
olive green in color. The winged
insect has a black head, the abdO
men being green and the altennae
black. The eggs are laid in crew
ices Of the bars or between the leaf
bud and twig of the apple and when
first deposited are pale greensh in
color. They soon change, however,
to a shining black and retain this
color until they hatch in the spring.
History of the Insect.
The oat aphis occurs on grains
and grasses throughout the summer.
The eggs are laid but once a year,
in the fall. In the spring the eggs
hatch, and throughout the summer
there are 16 Or more generations
Grafton in the fall contains both
males and females. AS the weather
becomes cooler some Of the females
seek tn lower parts or roots Of wheat
and other plants of the grass fam
lily and here pass the winter, or the
winged insects coming from the grain
the egg-layilg females Of this gen
Grafton in turn depositing eggs on
the twigs and branches.
Mild winters and cool springs seem
most conductive to the increase Of
this pest. The oat aphis multiplies
rapidly when. the temperature var
les between 40 and SO degrees
Destroy Breeding Place.
The little wheat pest thrives best
in rank-growing grain as il spots
where manure piles or straw stacks
have stood. These places are usual
~ the center of infestation and the
lice may be found there even dhring
the winter. Therefore the volunteer
growth Of wheat that occurs in the
vicinity Of straw stacks or manure
piles should be plowed under or 9th
erwise destroyed late In the fall in
order to destroy the plant-lice breed
ing thereon. In some cases 1T may
be desirable to destroy this vegeta
ton even earlier; that is, before the
winter wheat is planted or at least
before it makes any growth above
ground.
The Dasturing Of cattle in wheat
~, do nd