The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-09-13

:. :: 7. !: !: :: =: !:
~ fzA TTNDREDS of millions of
Ia Y dollars of tribute are to
be levied by enemies
within our midst. Just
when we looked conf
- IDENTIFY forward 30 the
TX restoration Of peace it
M.k9 is brought home to us
49, that We have got to do
y j. witb other kinds of foes that
a ..ot be halted by threat or the pa
!, armed forces. Our antago-
ne time IRE hOrdes of the boil
IdeM ,al and the army worm.
's.sA nam washington comes the news
:. no army worm has appeared
Al h ~ IN Texas and that it has started
.xnss work It's way northward right
s.,nyb The regions where our wheat
m0o. .s, aoprish, 1t isn't a problem Of
ross. ,.,ding against the vast sWarms
wbss Am may have their origin in the far
~ tsh for those particular worms will
VIA .,ly have but circumscribed zone
g .ggresslye movement; the task is
vstcb for them everywhere. The
isuk .oaness Of the past winter has ia
h ,,ed the survival of many Insects that
,DOsf .Asrrise would have been killed.
j. ss,sfore extra millions Of these in
N, are alive and multiplying their
Ind
Ce ne army worm is particularly de-
sltsls 4nettve 10 wheat, corn and other
iats aak grasses and kindred forage
AGA sl,ais It Is known to attack corn in
s su. manner similar to the we'll known
0Ilat Orrear worm. The young larvae de-
ADJ. ,eir the tender folded leaves and, as
ne worms increase in size, they fire.
1NE mesy burrow right into the heart
dthe growing ear and destroy it.
taas Aiar back as 1901 mention is made
II ha natural history of the army
Earns hurtful ways. During the sum-
ng and fall of 1916 the army worm
con. hsed Itself In Florida, and ten years
htsr aroused apprehension.
According to the eptOmologists there
nav be from two to three generations
Il the army worm during single
annef. And the same experts as
sue Us that each succeeding genera
ton usually becomes more destructive
VS. 8aa that which preceded it, The au
Auites are commonly agreed that the
amy worm, especially the fall army
Fgm Is Of southern origin, and this
hd helps TO explain why it does not |
lgpeaF yearly in consbicuously in |
ilrQus numbers. It's instinct prompts |
1 70 strive continually to obtain n !
iQ8ta0d farther north than its natural |
ilSe and here is where weather con-
dHols play an important part In its !
ns history and its propagation in
higher attitudes. Ordinarily, if the !
season is against them, they are killed |
q Ia great numbers during the fall !
int winter and therefore COMPARE |
aVslY few are left to multiply their
+ nna me following spring and summer.
8 ae early appearance of the army |
i soin In Texas may justify the fear
i gA safes considerably to the north |
8 as become restocked by the flight of
ue parent moths from the southern !
) aeeahg grounds IN the warm swamp
anus The moth which produces the
~ army worm Is a member Of the /
satiying variety, and Is of the same
ally which includes the parents of
y Oanefal cut worm, an importation
ae4i ne old world, with long years of
american naturalization.
the habit Of these nocturnal
aels % develop their eggs in clusters
z slasses but when these insects oc-
q = very large numbers they do
as % leaves and twigs of trees as
ei g On the outer walls of build
The eggs are laid in lots of
Asu aitg to sixty. The larvae at first
y frequently so dark as to escape
sr, except when moving in
saa9es and their whereabouts are
liner concealed by the normal habit
p,alas IN the deep grass during the
~ slle and feeding mostly at night.
'as explains Why one may go to bed
es ueld, garden, or lawn m.
4af'ed, only to arise at dawn to find
pnaee deyasted The mature army
sq ranges from an inch to an inch
nalf In length and is about a
S',,'sf Of an inch through.
y llle history of the army worm
long one. The first of the
no., 3 y worms are from eggs de-
paased The fan before. Their ma manner