The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-05
DAMAGED
BY RED SPIDERS
Use OF Sulphur busting To
Control Pest Advocated
By J. o. Rowe]l

Just when it appeared that most
of the boil weevils were frozen out
along came the red spider to upset
the cotton growers hopes of COM
parative peace from insect infes-
tation. in 1910.
j. o. Rowell, extension entomol-
ogist of N. c. State college, reports
widespread and severe damage
from red spider in many of the
cotton-producing counties of East
ern North Carolina. He recon-
mends sulphur busting to control
this pest.
Injury by the red spider in cot
ton fields usually occurs from the
middle of June to the middle of
September" Rowell declared, but
this year considerable damage by
the pest was reported as early as
the first of June.
"In heavily-infested fields, tn e
damage consists of rusting a n d
dropping of leaves, and sometimes
complete defoliation and death of
plants in the affected portions of
the fields. The presence of the pest
is first evidenced by the appear
ance on the upper surface of the
leaves of reddish spots. AS the at
tack increases, the leaves become
rusty brown, curl, and finally drop.
This injury results from the ex-
traction by the red spiders of the
juices from the plants"
Dust Under Side of Leaves
The extension specialist advo-
Gates the application of sulphur
dust to the underside of the leaves,
as it is there that the spiders live
and feed. Any convenient rotary
type hand buster or machine dust
err that a be regulated to dust
the under side of the leaves can
be used for applying the sulphur.
Thorough coverage with the
dust on the under surface of the
leaves is very important" he says.
busting should be done when the
air is calm and preferably when
the temperature is high. From 1C
to IL pounds of the sulphur dust
are required per acre per applica.
ton. Two treatments at weekly in
tervals are usually sufficient tc
eradicate the infestation. Wher
heavy, beating rains occur within
"a hours after an application has
been made, that treatment should
be repeated as soon as the weather
permits"
Rowell also suggested that where
red spider injury is detected in
small localized areas in c t o n
fields, that further spread Of the
pest can be stopped by destroying
on the spot the few infested plants.
The infested plants may be pulled
up and buried or burned immedi-
ately on the spot, or they may be
sprayed thoroughly with kerosene.
In connection with this serious
problem, the entomologist COM
mented, further as follows when
cotton and other annual plants die
in the fall, the red spiders are
forced to seek food on green plants
in hedge rows and ditch banks; in
wooded areas around the cotton
fields; and on perennial cultivated
plants around the dooryards and
outbuildings. 1t is on these plants
that the insects live and breed dur
ing the winter, and from which
they spread to new cotton fields in
the spring of next year.
by destroying, during the win
ter and early spring, the pokeweed,
Jerusalem oak, jimson weed, wild
blackberry, wild geranium, a n d
other weeds in and around cotton
fields, a great step will have been
taken toward the control of the red
spider.
Ornamentals Are Also Hosts
Cultivated ornamental plants,
especially violets, which remain
green during the winter may serve
as hosts of the red spider. Such
should be watched closely
during the winter, and if found in
tested, should be treated or de-
RoWell also advised cotton grow
ers not to relax their vigilance
against the boil weevil just because
the infestation was not as severe
year as in the past. weather
conditions next winter and spring
may not be as favorable for the
of breeding stock, and we
must be ready to fight this enemy
every year." the specialist de-
clared.
He recommends that the farmer
cut, uproot Or pillow under all stalks
as soon as the last cotton is picked
in the fall. "The removal of their
food stops late breeding Of weevils
and causes those already present
to enter Information prematurely,
thus reducing their chances of sur
in the winter" Rowel as
serted.
Complete information on boil
weevil control is contained in a
new extension folder, No. IS, which
is available free upon request to
the Agricultural Editor at State
College, Raleigh. For those who
are interested in further informa-
ton on red spider control, Farm
ers' Bulletin No. 1871, 1.-The Red
and How to Control It," is
available upon request to the Uni
ted States Department of Agricul-
ture, Washington, D. c. !