The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-06-15
Farm Bureau Will
Aid in Destroy
ing Grasshoppers
Weevil Control
BY County Agricultural Agent

BY County Agricultural Agent
Weevil Control
During the past season the alfalfa
weevil spread rapidly thru the small
seed district and will probably ex-
tend farther north this year. In ad-
dition to the dozen spray machines
already in the county there will be
fourteen or fifteen improved spray
ers shipped in this spring. The I'M
proved Iron Age sprayer will spray
about thirty acres per day, or about
800 acres during the season. The
situation can best be handled by
forming community spray organiza-
lions to combat the pest at the least
cost.
There are four stages in the life
cycle of the alfalfa weevil: Egg,
larva, pupa and adult. The eggs are
laid inside the stem in the spring
and summer. The larva are green
worms with light stripes on the
backs and have black heads. The
serious damage is done by the larva
which eat the foliage of first crop
and delay the later crops. In
heavily infected. fields the entire
crop is destroyed. ....,&
Sugar Beet Web Worm
During the past season the sugar
beet webworm caused considerable
damage to beets in Bingham county
altho the pest is not as yet general
thruout the county. They are con-
trolled by spraying with some arsen-
ical poison such as Paris Green.
Webworms injure bets by destroying
the leaves which retards the growth.
The eggs are laid by small grayish
brown moths on underside Of leaves.
The most characteristic marking Of
the worm is the dark line in the
center of the back with the row of
dark circles on either side, each with
q small bristle In the center. When
disturbed the worms jerk their
bodies violently from side to side.
The farm bureau will be glad to CO.
operate whit the beet growers in
controlling this or any other pest.
Cabbage Worms Common, Velvety)
There are probably three or four
generations of this insect, during
the year, but the broods overlap to
such an extent that we have the
worms on plants practically the en-
tire summer and fall.
Control methodsNOne Of the best
means of control is to make a poison
dust composed of one part arsenate
of lead and four parts hydrated lime
or very fine road dust. This should
be stirred together so as to give q
uniform mixture. Paris Green may
be used in, place of arsenate Of lead
If the arsenate of lead is not avail
able. The best way to apply the
dust is to place 1t in a large mouthed
can or bottle with a cheese cloth
covering and apply by shaking 1t
over the plants. The dust is pre-
ferred to the liquid because 1t sticks
much better.
Cut Worms
Cut worms lie hidden beneath
trash or just below the surface of
the soil during the day, coming forth
toward dusk and during the night
to feed. The best known method Of
killing them is to use poisoned bait.
The following is q reliable formula:
Twenty pounds of bran, 2 quarts
molasses (cheap grade), 1 pound
Paris Green or white arsenic, 2
lemons or " ounce Amyl Acetate.
Thoroly mix the bran and Paris
Green dry. Chop the lemons Grind
included) very fine. Add molasses
and chopped fruit to one half of the
water and stir until the molasses is
dissolved. Add this to the bran and
Paris Green and mix evenly adding
the remainder of the water till the
mass is thoroly moistened. Scatter
broadcast over the infected field
about sun down when worms begin
to feed. This mixture, if scattered
evenly, will cover 2h acres. If
used in the garden it should be
scattered along the row or in small
punches by each hill
Grasshoppers
A bran mash made of the follow
ing formula scattered along the
ditch banks when the young hoppers
appear most abundantly is found to
control this pest:
Wheat bran, 25 lbs; white
arsenic, 1 h.; cheap molasses, 2
qts.; amyl acetate, ga o.; water,
3k gal.