The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-04-30
CONTROL OF THE
ARMY CUTWORM
B. X. A. Cooley. State EntOm0logist,
~

ton entitled, "The Army Cutworm,"
gives general reformation regarding
this pest and outlines the life his
tory and general methods Of control.
This circular is still available for dis
tribution. Since it's publication we
have had further experience in con-
trolling outbreaks and have had par
ticular success with the poisoned bran
mash.
During the past few days we have
had numerous reports of extensive
dama.e TO fall grain from widely Sc
parated localities IN the State, extend
ing from the Bitter Root Valley east
to Billings and north to Havre. Judg-
ing from the experience of recent
years we nay expect the activities of
the rast to continue to the middle
Of Nav and we fear that other local.
tiles not heard from yet will report
damage.
The indications are that we are con-
fronted by an almost statewide out
break Of this cutworm which we fear
may be unprecedented in severity.
Many thousands of acres have already
been eaten off. There is no way Of
predicting such outbreaks.
1t is II safe for any grower to fall
1t is not safe for any grower of
eall g~cin to assume that because the
cutworms have rot been noticed in his
tield they are not there. Grain grow
ers should promptly examine their
fields. If cutworms are found
prompt action necessary.
How to Look for Them
From late afternoon until dark is
the >bcst time of the day to examine
che fields. Ground which during the
heat of the day may appear to have
few or no worms, in the cool of the
evening may be swarming with them.
Look FOR worms from "A inch to IL
inches i'll kngth with characteristic
cutwcrm appearance. This is not the
army wcr:r. of the east, but a cut
worn that, whel. very abundant, adj
opts the Amy habit and moves in
great numbers in search of food.
Scattering worms will probably be
found through TIE field and may do no
damage, but when bare spots begin
to appear in fall wheat prompt action
with ccn.rcl measures is needed.
In case of spring wheat which is
just coming up, very close examina-
ton is necessary to determine wheth-
er or not the wo,ms are eating it as
fast as il appears above the ground.
If large numbers of worms are found
in spring wheat fields, crawling about
in the late afternoon, prompt action is
needed. This Will apply as we'll to
resecdcd fields that have been planted
long enough for the crop to be up.
What to Do
The first thing to do is to carefully
study the field in late afternoon and
early evening where the worms are
active. Determine where the worms
are thickest and in what direction they
are going. They will generally be
found in the edge of the grain that
still remains green where they are adj
vancing into the grain from the spots
which they have been eating off. The
immediate problem is to stop the ad-
vance.
We place our main dependence for
control on poisoned bran mash, made
as follows:
Paris green-.-.----.------...-2 pounds
Salt pound
MolasSes quart
Mix thoroughly the bran, poison and
salt together. Mix the molasses in
about a pail of water. Add this and
enough more water to make a coarse,
crumbly mash, that will break into
flakes when scattered. This should
be sown broadcast where the worms
are thickest, at the rate Of fifteen to
twenty pounds to the acre. This is
effective only when moist and should,
therefore be sown in the late after
noon. If it dries out and living worms
are abundant the next afternoon the
treatment should be repeated. The
cost Of materials is only about rs
cents per acre for the grain actually
treated and it is seldom necessary to
treat -he entire field.
W. have found that a deep plowed
furrow used together with the bran
mash makes the most effective and i'm
mediate method of stopping the
worms. Plow as deeply as possible
and with the vertical edge toward the
side i he protected. A sharp coulter
should be used in order to make the
edge as smooth as possible. One fur
row should be plowed about five feet
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