American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1915-04-22
FIGHT THH CUTwORM.
Communication Received From It. II.
Parks, Field ~EntOmolOgist at Boise

, on which TO satisfy It's appetite. AT
several points on the north side Of
Snake river, especially about Gooding,
considerable damage is reported, and
one or two farmers on the south side
project here have reported the APP
p%earance OF these worms. Robert
Haxby, manager of the Equity at Burley
Idaho, had some of the worms brought
to him from north of the river. lie
sent them to T. II. Parks, field ento-
mologist of the University of Idaho,
who is located at Boise, and the fol-
lowing communication was received
which may interest our readers and
the suggestion might be tried when
the pestilence shows itself.
Emmett. Idaho. April 3, 1915.
Farmers Society OF Equity,
Burley, Idaho.
Gentlemen:
The can OF cutworms sent to the
state capital for information was re-
ceived by me yesterday, just previous
to leaving on a weeks trip on a like
mission In Boise County.
These cutworms are species OF what
is known as the Western cutworm
which Is present every year and about
the only cutworm which damages al
falfa.
The eggs are deposited in the fall
by greenish brown moths that fly only
at night and these worms have win
tered In the soil as half grown larvae
and are completing their growth this
spring. At the present time they are
nearly full grown and you will find
that In a week or ten days they will
disappear and cause no more trouble.
They will then go into the ground,
change to the pupa form and the moth
energies next fall.
Instruct ranchers to delay sowing
alfalfa seed until ten days longer in
order that the worms will not destroy
the new sprouts. Old alfalfa that APP
pears destroyed will probably recov-
err, send out new shoots and make a
crop later. There will be no trouble
from the worms during the summer
and fall.
They also feed on grass and grain,
though II Is not advisable to delay
sowing the grain except where the
worms are very abundant.
They feed only an night and cannot
be reached by any remedy at present.
Late fall blowing and cultivation of
alfalfa will help to control this insect,
though cultivating alfalfa in the spring
has nc effect upon them.
The are abundant also at Gooding
and In the upper Payette Valley.
Trusting this information will help
you, | am. yours truly.
+. II. PARKS.
Filed Entomologist. University Exten-
sion.
The following additional information
was also added by Mr.. Parks:
Acting upon your letter aent to
Moscow and complaining OF injury to
alfalfa by catarpillars. I suggest the
following plan that might be carried
out I'm killing tho worms:
Get some good stir hawthorn brush
and II hawthorn Is 20 accessible get
willow or other flexible brush that
VIII bend easily without breaking
With such material make n brush drag
by placing the individual brushes par
allel to each other clamping the butt
ends between 2x6 inch by 2x14 inch
and allowing the brush TO project out
behind In such a way that when drug
over the field they viii make n straight
line rather than zigzag. Weight these
brushes down and drag this owe the
field 80 that The brush will tear
through the crown OF the plant crush
ing the worms. This method is used
very successfully against the alfalfa
weevil In Utah and is the most effect
I've remedy for that insect.
In case you do not have the brushes
accessible weave then a section OF
woven wire fence IN the teeth OF your
smoothing harrow. This will make a.
very good substitute for the brush
drag above described.
These worms live over winter In the
half grown stage In tho alfalfa sol!
and the only cure Is one OF prevention
which consists OF fall and winter cul-
tivation OF alfalfa fields.
Since the injury is now being done
such cultivation would not be effective
You will find that In a short time. per
haps three weeks. these worms will
transform to moths and as there ~
only n generation annually. there
will be nc injury TO the following al
falfa crop.
tSigned) T. H. PARKS.
Field Entomologist. University OF Ida
Boise. Idaho. April 9. 1915
MIR. Robert Haxby. Manager sociey OF
Equity, Burnley. Idaho:
Dear Sir: Your inquiry OF the 9TH TO
the State House. reached US here. Our
Field Entomoiogist. Mr.. T. II. Parks.
is now In the Horseshoe Bend country
helping the people over there with the
same problem you seem 10 have.
The worms you sent have not reich
ed us yet but ! suspect they arr ri
specie OF the cutworms which are DO