The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-02-27
GENERAL MANAGER EIGNUS
MAKES SUGGESTION.

MI u. II. WcDD vi TIC Qlhlcu OldteS
Department of Agriculture has made
the following recommendation for the
control of "Rice Root MaggotS."
Experiments conducted by the
United States Department Of Agri.
culture during the last four years, at
Crowley, La, and elsewhere, have made
it possible to make definite recon-
mendatlons for the control of rice
root-maggots.' This pest is otherwise
known as the Rice Water Meevil.
The scientific name Of the insect is
LiSSorhoptrus simplex Say.
"The so.called 'root.maggot' is the
immature form of a small grayiSh
Weevill which passes the winter in old
dead grass along levees and in fields
which have been left to remain fallow.
In the spring these Weevils come out
of their winter quarters, and as soon as
the flooding Of rice begins they fly to
to the flooded fields. Here the females
deposit eggs in the roots of the grow.
ing rice. Within a few days the eggs
hatch into tiny larve, or 'root.maggots'
These larvae grow rapidly, feed on the
rice roots, and when full grown change
into another form entirely. This form
is called the pupa aud passes its ex.
iStence as such, within a small egg.
shaped earthen cell which is attached
to root of rice. In this form the in.
sect is absolutely harmless. The pupa
later changes to the adult or Weevil
form, which energies from the earthen
cell and reaches the open air.
"By careful experimentation it has
been found that draining of rice fields
at the proper time, and for a certain
length of time, will destroy most of the
'rootmaggotS' in the fields treated.
The proper time to begin draining is
from 2! to 8 weeks after the first flood.
ing. Fields should remain without
water for two weeks. Drainage for
less than two weeks will not kill the
root.maggotS,' and drainage for more
than two weeks will iniure the rice.
Farmers should not wait until they
see the rice beginning to turn yellow
before draining, AS a usupl thing
drainage at that time is worse than
useless. 1t is likely to be actually
detrimental to the rice. The reason
for this is, that by the time the rice be.
gins to turn yellow from root maggot'
attack, the "root.maggots' are almost
ready to change to the papal stage
above mentioned, and the damage is
practically complete. This being the
case, the rice needs water to enable it
to throw out new roots and recover
from the attack, To be effective drain.
age should be begun while the root.
maggotS' are yet small, not when they
are full grown. The only way to de.
tect their presence at this time is to
wash out rice roots in water and watch
closely for root.maggots' to float on
the surface. In fact to be absolutely
safe drainage should be begun from Q!
to three weeks ritter the first flooding,
and continued for two weeks, whether
'root-maggots are actually found at the
time or not. The reason for this
recommendation is that while the root.
maggots' are quite young they do not
always float on the surface of the water
when roots are washed out, and might
therefore not be detected"
We feel that the suggestions for the
control of maggots, as outlined in the
letter Of Mr., Webb, is of decided value
to every planter of rice and according.
ly place it before you for your consider.
alton.
Yours truly,
F.. A ETGNTIS