The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-07-25
The Army Worm and Its Control
How 60 Dispose Of Pest Which cwcops Down on All Green
Crops

The armv worm that has beer doing so much damage to corn, wheat and
green crops in various sections of the country, is the caterpillar form of a
moth that flies only at night according to Frank b. wade, deputy entonolo-
dt for the Indiana state conservation commission. In a bulletin issued by
the commission, Mr. Wade describes the family history of the pest and tells
the most approved methods of fighting it,
"To begin with" said Mr. Wade, "he moth is about one and onehaf
inches across the spread wings and is brOwnish gray n color. The caterpillar,
when full grown, is about one and onefaff inches long, Is SMOOTH n Is
usually greenish in general color with one broad stripe o. oaK eray or nicK
down the middle of the back and with a narrower stripe o tn same color on
either side. The broad stripe usually has q fine light broken stripe running
down its center. The head is greenish-brown, speckled with blacK.
1T is this caterpillar form that does the damage by eating every green
thing within reach. SO numerous do they sometimes become III Oh "a
actually hear them eat in concert. When they have cleaned up on the food
supply in field they move Ell masse to an adjoining held' mo hs ome
about the familiar name Of army worm.
THE full grown caterpillar ceases to feed and goes into the pupa or
resting state after from three to four weeks of feeding. Here II remains
beneath the surface Of the SOIL a s a rule, for about two weeks. n pupae
look something like date seeds The moth on emerging from the pupal case
dries it's wings and flies away to mate. The eggs re then laid usually IN the
folded part of grass blades, and they hatch in from eght 70 ten days ms
starting the tiny caterpnlars nee more
"To control these pests one should be alert to detect the first attack To-
the area invaded is usually relatively small at first and may be moved off and
straw scattered and burned, thus destroying the catepflars. Another method
of control is to spray the infested pa heavily with paris green Cone pound TO
so gallons of water) Or with lead arsenate 1.-TWO pounds to 80 gallons). Such
sprayed material should. of COURSE, not be used as feed.
poisoned bait will also do good service. Make up a bran mash with 90
pounds of wheat bran and one pound Of paris green or two pounds o lead
hrsenate and moisten it with cheap molasses n strip and add the juice OF hmf
a dozen lemons Or oranges. BY scattering this bait broadcast throughout the
infested area in small pieces a large number Of worms may be killed.
ITO keep the worms from moving q to new feeding grounds trenches
should be pOwed entirely around The infested area. The trench should be at
least six inches deep and should have q vertical side toward the new ground.
1t should have posthohs ut intervals for the worms to fall into and it should
be kept as dusty a possible by dragging a log through 1t o pulVerle te soil
1t should be tended at all times when the worms are OF the move, a S they
should be burned when they begin to get numerous in the trench. A gasoline
torch or straw covered with coal oil may be used for this purpose.
"n wet weather the trench will not stop the worms, and then q line of
heavy road oil laid an inch or two wide o a smooth hard surface should be
used. Drag a plank heavily loaded with stones ocr the ground Ito prepare
the surface for the oil.
"The army worm appears about the san time each year, but in small
numbers and without doing noticeable damage. 1t is only when, because of
circumstances which ire not thoroughly understood. the army wOrmb becomes
very numerous, that it is a menace. Probably some of its natural enemies
Jared ill last winter and were not N hand in their usual numbers to dispose
of the worms this spring. At any rate they are with us, and if not properly
handled they bid fair 10 do more damage in the localities where they appear
than the seventeen-year locust