The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-15
FALL ARMY WORM.
Northern March Of insect From
Texas,

Northern March Of Insect From
The fall army worm, which was re-
ported recently in southern and CEN
trail Texas. has begun its march north
and has now appeared In Louisiana.
1t seems that the worms natural enc
mics are not sufficiently abundant in
Texas this year to keep It down. There
is little doubt, therefore. hat II will
continue to work its way northward,
doing more and more damage as II ad-
vances. The line of its probable
march being fairly we'll known. how
ever, farmers who act in time may
do much to protect their crops. espe-
cially alfalfa, corn and the sorghum.
When they first appear the worms
are very small and feed beneath mat
ted grass. &C. II the ground between
the corn rows IL grassy the worms
may originate and feed there until
partly grown. Thus In the early
stages the worms are very difficult
30 detect. and unless the farmer keeps
"a Siai eyt VII IIlo lltiuS liz Is likely
to find his corn and sorghum sud-
denly attacked by myriads OF the
worms which have grown rapidly
toward maturity and emerged from
their hiding places. When this hap
pens corn will be stripped to bare
stalks and alfalfa to bare stems. Last
year the insects stripped lawns and
gardens through New Jersey, New
York and in some sections Of New
England.
The fall army worm when very
young is nearly black. II grows rap
idly. ultimately obtaining a length of
about IN inches. At this stage the
body is striped on a ground varying
in color from a pale yellowish brown
to black, more or less streaked and
intermixed with dull yellow. On each
side there Is a broad yellow undulat-
ing line more or less strongly mot
tied with red. II closely resembles
the common army worm and owes
Its name to the fact that. originating
In the extreme South. IL makes its
way %northward as the season ad-
vances. attacking fresh vegetation OF
almost every sort that 1t encounters
on its way.
Ordinarily there are from three to
four or even five generations of the
fall army worm in the course OF a
year. The worms. when full grown,
descend an inch or two into the
ground in order to pass into the pupal
state preparatory to emerging as the
adult moths which lay the eggs for
the next generation OF worms. This
habit of descending into the ground
to enter pupation s OF great impor-
tance in the control Of the pest. Shall
low cultivation will destroy from so
to 90 per cent. Of the insects pupating
at any time. the efficiency Of the meas
ure depending upon the thoroughness
with which the work IL done. In al
falfa the use of the spiked tooth har-
row or the alfalfa %cuitivator r. best
unless It Is known that disking Is not
injurious to the plants. Cultivation of
the ground between the rows Of corn
has been found to destroy nearly all
Of the pupm. thereby preventing the
development Of another generation.
When fields are threatened with
invasion. but have not as yet
become actually infested. a deep
furow should be ploughed out
around tho entire circumfer-
ence Of the feld. Into this fur
row the advancing worms will fall
They may then be killed by dragging
a heavy log through the furrow. or.
in sections where irrigation is posi-
bile, the furrow may be filled with
water and a small quantity Of kero-
sene sprinkled over the surface. This
will kill the worms almost instantly.
Where n close examination OF a
cornfield shows the presence OF the
fall army worm actually attacking the
corn. the Department OF Agriculture
recommends busting the plants with
powdered arsenate OF lead. using from
three to Ave pounds per acre. mixed
with two or three times its weight
of -four. This precaution Is, Of course,
out Of the question on forage crops
or on corn afterward to be used for
fodder on account Of the danger Of
poisoning stock. In such cases a hun
bred pounds OF wheat bran may he
mixed with a couple OF pounds of either
paris green or powdered arsenate Of
lead, preferably the former. and the
whole mass worked into a stir dough
by the use Of three or four gallons
OF molasses and the Juice OF a half
dozen oranges or lemons added there
TO. II this is sown broadcast on the
ground where the worms are at work
they will feed upon It and be killed.
The worms. 1t has been found, will
come to the poisoned bait from dis
OF from Ave to ten inches.
In alfalfa fields the immediate cutting
and curing of the alfalfa is advisable as
soon AZ the infestation has been dis
This will not only save the
hay crop but will cut off the food
Of the fall army worn and check
thereby the development IF another
generation which may he many times
more destructive than the first. As
soon as the hay has been removed
from the field. the ground should he
rolled with a heavy roller or brush
dragged. OF the poison bait can be
used.