The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1948-06-03

During the past few days IN
sect activity has increased rapidly
/ in Yakima valley crops.
Pea weevil and pea aphids have
shown up in rather large numbers
| in pea fields during the past
week and steps should be taken
Immediately to control them.
Seventy-five hundreths per cent
rotenone dust applied at the rate
of IS pounds per acre may be
| used at this time as combina-
ton control for both weevil and
aphids. Pea weevil do no material
damage to peas prior to bloom
and probably deposit few if any
eggs before the bloom period.
However, as soon as bloom APP
pears growers should determine
the presence Of weevils and con-
troll them to avoid infested peas.
The necessity Of applying sub
sequent dusts will be determined
by the effectiveness fsthe first
: application and on the migration
of weevil from adjacent fields.
DOT is not recommended on
edible peas nor on dry peas
where the straw will be useo
for feed as its toxicity has not
been fully determined. -
The Colorado potato beetle ma
de its appearance last week. Flea
beetles are emerging at a rapid
rate. Warm weather is bringing
large numbers of winged green
peach aphids into potato fields.
In view of these large popula-
tons of insects converging on
to maintain busting programs on
potatoes it is very important
a definite schedule. Fortunately,
five per cent DOT is very effect
i've on all of the above mention
ed insects.
The second application of dust
for potato insect control was re-
commended to be applied May
26. When this schedule is being
followed further busting will not
be necessary until about June 6
at which time another bulletin
will appear.
Spot checks made during the
week indicate that growers are
generally following the suggested
busting programs and they are
to be compllmented for their
efforts.
It is time for cherry growers
to start looking for the cherry
fruitfly. In ordinary years the
fly makes its appearance during
the last week in May. The late
season Of 1913 may retard its
appearance until the first week
in June, SO growers can be on
the lookout for this fellow at
any time.
There may be some of you
who do not know just what the
cherry fruitfly looks like. It is
about half the size of house
fly, has a black body with a
white stripe down each side and
white spot in the middle. How
ever, positive Identification can
be made by the distinguishing
characteristic which is the dark
cross bands on the wings. Cherry
fruitflies are apt to be confused
with two other species-the "a
dult of the apple maggot which
breeds in snow berries in the
Yakima valley, and the dark
bodied currant fly. The wing
bands of the latter are much
heavier than those of the cherry
fly.
Control of the fruitfly can be
had by either spraying or dust
ing. Since the major portion of
the sweet cherries grown in the
Yakima Valley are sold on the
fresh market, lead arsenate is
not recommended to be used in
sprays because of the objection
able residues. Rotenone sprays
and dusts are the only alter
native. Since rotenone looses its
killing ability within a few days,
it may be necessary to spray or
dust every 5 to z days.
For those who have never
had contact with the cherry
fruitfly, the time of their emer-
gence can best be determined by
the use of fly traps. Descrip-
tons, dimensions and instruc-
tons on how to construct them
can be obtained from the County
Agents office by securing Ex-
tension Mimeo Number 352.
Yakima county caneberry gro