The Carlisle independent., 1920-08-19
CHINCH. BUGS OCCURRING IN
 CORN AND SORGHUM

Chinch bugs are now occurring in large numbers on corn and sorghums in Arkansas, according to report re- ceived from W. J. Baerg, entomologist of the University of Arkansas. The present outbreak is rather unusual for the state as this is the first year that a complaint has come to the en- tomologist since 1914.
 The reason why these outbreaks are so few and far between in Arkansas, is due in part to the ample rainfall in May and June The most effective natural check on chinch bugs is fun gus disease sometimes known as chinch bug cholera. The disease thrives in cool wet weather. For this reason chinch bugs are relatively un- common in Arkansas when cool and wet weather is the rule in the early part of the season.
 When it was found that the fungus disease constituted an effective check on the bugs an attempt was made to propagate the disease in the labora- tory and spread it by scattering di- seased bugs in infested fields. After several years of experiment it was found that the disease was always present in a degree that is sufficient to kill insects speedily, providing weather conditions are suitable. If weather conditions are not suitable artificial propagation and dissemina- tion of the fungus will avail nothing.
 With the coming of warm weather the bugs migrate to their favorite feeding grounds among which they prefer wheat and barley. After feed ing week or more the females be- gin to deposit eggs on plants and on the ground. The young bugs feed on the wheat and barley till the crops are mature. At this time but few of the bugs are able to fly and are com pelled to travel on foot. If the har- vest is late, however, or the wheat fields have liberal supply of weeds and grass, the bugs remain there until mature and then fly to corn and sor- ghums. In these crops another gen eration is produced and the losses are much more severe than in wheat or barley.
 Since the ehinch bugs are now in the corn and sorghum little can be done to stop their activities. If feas- ible the corn can be sprayed with mixture of nicotine sulphate, called water to which soap has been added at the rate of four pounds to 50 gallons of water. This is the most effective insecticide known and will not injure plants. A soap solution consisting Of one pound of soap to five or six gallons of water is fairly effective.
 An important preventive measure is the maintaining of a barrier be- tween wheat and corn at the time the bugs migrate. A furrow six to eight inches deep and kept dusty by fre-- quent dragging is most commonly used. A tar line is probably just as effective and in some instances bet ter. The tar line is made by dragging the ground or blowing a wide clean furrow and applying the tar to the smooth strip. Coal tar has the disad- vantage of soaking too rapidly into the ground. Road oil if not so thin it will soak into the ground is found very effective. The tar line requires con stant watching. On the side from which the bugs migrate holes are sunk 50 feet apart for the purpose of trap ping the insects. They are then killed by pouring kerosene in the holes.
 Chinch bugs winter in the adult stage where they are found in bunch grass, corn shocks, brushy fence rows, ditch banks, and in neglected fields and pastures. Burning over the win ter quarters some time in December is considered to be the most effective measure in the control of the chfnch hues. Iris must be done thorouehlv and the grass and weeds burned to the gro lnd To preyert a similar out break of the bugs next year it will be we'll to examine such places as they are likely to spend the winter late this year. If infested places are found they should be burned over so that the lug: mt killed by fire will he destrc -- al hxy no1d