The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1920-02-04
FIGHTING The INSECT PESTS
Suggestions From the EntomoIogist
About Combating Boil Weevila,
Scales, Twis Girdlers, Stored Grain
Insects, etc.

and never before has 1t been necessary
for them to do as careful planning dur.
ing the winter as it is now. The boil
weevil injury is directly dependent up
on the weather conditions. If the sea.
son is moist and favorable for weevil
development, very serious damage is
expected in the southern part Of the
state approximately below line e1-
tending from Augusta to Charleston,
but severe damage may also be expect.
ed in the Coastal counties between
Charleston and the North Carolina line
il the season Is wet
One Of the most important habits
that we must form in general farm
management is to practice farm clean
ing during the fall and winter because
most OF our insect pests, including the
boil weevil, find winter shelter in the
dead leaves and grass, and along ditch
banks, fence rows, wood lots, old orch
ards and roadsides. Several Of our
most serious pests find winter-quarters
in and around the cotton and corn
stalks during the winter. II for any
reason these stalks have not been prop
erly cleaned up by plowing under, burn.
ing, or otherwise by December first,
it should be done Immediately; and II
any remain by January first, they
should not be allowed to stay one day
longer In the dead grass, along wood
lots, under bark, and around stumps
that are left in the field millions OF
field crop insect pests winter success
fully. Therefore, farmer should never
fail to look upon the stumps in the
field as a winter hotel for the accomo
dation Of farm pests.
Tho Shot Hole Borer.
In many Of the orchards at this sea
son Of the year there are trees that
have the bark full OF small holes the
size Of a number eight shot. These
holes are .uade by the shot hole borer
or fruit bark beetle, and as this pest
stays in the bark during the winter IN
the grub stage, It is now the proper
time of the rear to give it very close
attention. A tree infested with shot
hole borers is not to be regarded as
sound tree. In most cases it has been
weakened by peach tree borer In the
crown, or scale on the bark, or both.
and when a tree Is thus weakened i
becomes an ideal breeding ground for
the shot hole borer. Prune the tree
back thoroughly and cut out all badly
infested branches; But II you do not
intend to burn this material immediate
Iy, then you might as we'll leave it on
the tree. Burn all pruned material and
do not let 1t lie in the orchard.
49, Control OF Scales.
The lime-sulphur wash, one Of the
insecticides used for the control Of
scale, may be purchased in the market
or it may be made at home preferably
by means of steam boiler. It can also
be made by the use Of large iron ket'
tie, provided the correct formula Is
used and directions followed closely.
For information as to where the ma.
terial can be obtained write to the Ex'
tension Service. Those desiring to
make the material at home, by one
method or the other can get full in
formation by writing for Circular 80,
South Carolina Experiment Station.
Two Of the most generally injurious
scales infesting the shade trees OF our
state are the gloomy scale and the cot
tony maple scale. They infest principal
ly our sugar and silver maple trees.
In the experimental work at this Col
lege lime-sulpher wash has not been
found a satisfactory control for either
Of these, but both species can be very
satisfactorily controlled by the applica'
ton of one Of the commercial spray
oils, properly mixed and properly appli-
ed. Ask for information concerning this
method Of treatment so that every
possible mistake can be avoided In Oh
tanning the oil, IN making correct mix
lures in making the separation test
and the proper method Of application.
Pecan TWia 6lrdlsrs.
During December and January one
should not forget to take good look
at the pecan trees. There will be found
twigs that were girdled of by the pc
can twig girdler. Inside OF these fallen
twigs are the eggs and larvae Of the in
sect, because the mother beetle girdles
the limbs between the point where the
eggs were laid and the tree. These
twigs as we'll as the girdled limbs ly-
ing under hickory trees in the neiehbor.
hood should be gathered and burned.
Stored Grain pests.
During the winter is the time to give
the proper treatment to our stored pro-
ducts to prevent injury by the srsnaEy
pests. Year after year We realize more
fully the great importance OF oonserv.
ing our harvest from the granary pests,
including rats and mice. More and