Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1940-07-25
Poisons Used In
Control OfSugar
Beet Web Worm
Worms Reported in Large
Numbers i'm Various Pine
County Points.

have been coming in from all parts
of the county of large numbers OF
worms which have done considerable
damage to crops. The first report
of the appearance of the worms here
came from the E. j. Heineman farm
near Rock Creek Friday, according
to Max McMillin, county agent, and
since then they have been observed
in various localities.
The worm has been identified as
the sugar beet web worm by Donald
Murray, district supervisor of the
Federal grasshopper control work.
It is first cousin" to the army worm.
They travel in great numbers through
the fields, doing most of their feed
ing at night. They do a great deal
of damage to grains, grasses, potatoes
and rutabagas, but do not seem to
care much for corn and certain other
crops if they can get something else
to eat.
Control Measures.
The following information concern
ing the worm and its control is given
out by the county agent: whenever
the worms are discovered in any
crops, large numbers of them can
be killed by poison sprays, dust or
bran. The spray may be of four
parts of Paris Green, four parts of
hydrated lime and 100 gallons of
water. This should be enough for
one acre, depending on the crop. The
dust is contact poison, made of one
part pyrethrum dust to seven parts
hydrated lime. Both the spray and
dust poisons are recommended In
fields such as potatoes and rutabagas
as they are root crops. For other
crops such as hay and grain, the
poison bran bait should be used. This
is somewhat more expensive but not
dangerous to livestock. The mash
may be spread at the rate of 10 to Is
pounds per acre. The formula is as
follows: Standard bran, 100 pounds;
Paris green or white arsenic, 4
pounds; black strap molasses, 2 GAL
Ions; and water, 6 to 8 gallons.
"In many cases we have been able
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by using the poison bran bait which
is now being used for grasshopper
control. However, the sawdust in
this bait makes it not as palatable to
the web worms as the formula above.
It is best to add molasses to the bait.
1.-The earlier these worms are dis
covered in a field after it has been
infested, the more effective will be
the poison mash. If the larvae are
still feeding in the originally infested
field, the poison mash may be broad
cast generally over the infested parts.
Only very few flakes of the poison
per square foot is enough to do the
Job, and remember that the poison
mash should be applied in the eve
ming.
burrows Can Stop Worms.
eff the worms have already started
to migrate, furrow should be plowed
with the steep or the land side toward
the fields to be protected If the soil
is sandy, the furrow may be made
dusty by dragging log through it.
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furroW which the worms cannot climb
and poison mash distributed in this
furrow will kill great numbers. The
worms arriving later will eat their
dead relatives and in that way we
quite often find tremendous numbers
destroyed by one application of bait.
Scatter the bait lightly. Ten to Is
pounds per ace is enough to get good
control.
"The whole problem with the web
worm situation is to be able to detect
the young worms before they do dam
age to the crops, and to spread the
poison mash in time"
The poison bran bait is not danger
Gus to livestock after it is spread
evenly on the fields as described
above However, no Jumps should
be left and all poison mash containers
should be kept well covered, so there
will be no danger Of stock getting
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