FALL ARMYWORM

a, Male moth (or adult) ; b, eggs; c, larva; d, face of larva; e, pupa in a cell; f, moth in resting posture; g, wing of female moth; h, feeding injury to corn plant. (a, c, e, f, g, h, about one and one-third times natural size; b, twice natural size; d, eight times natural size.)

FALL ARMYWORM

The fall armyworm is known mainly as an enemy of growing corn, but it feeds on many other cultivated crops (alfalfa, cotton, peanuts, grasses) and wild plants. The eggs are laid at night on grasses or other plants and hatch in about 5 days. The young larvae (caterpillars or "Worms") feed at first near the ground, become full-grown in about 20 days, and then enter the soil for a few inches and change into pupae. The inactive pupal stage lasts about 10 days. After the moths emerge from the pupal cases they often fly many miles before the females lay eggs. The fall armyworm may have as man), as six generations a year in the Gulf States but does not survive the winter farther north. Besides eating the blades of corn and boring into the stalks, the larvae may bore into the ears, particularly the shanks of the ears, and feed extensively therein.

Control: The fall armyworm can be controlled with the following sprays:

(1) 2 pounds per acre of a wettable powder containing 50 percent of either DDT or TDE, mixed with 40 gallons of water.

(2) A toxaphene emulsifiable concentrate, applied by aircraft at the rate of 1 1/2 to 2 pounds of toxaphene in 2 gallons of spray per acre.

A dust containing 5 percent of DDT, toxaphene, or TDE, at the rate of 40 pounds per acre and a 20 percent toxaphene dust at 10 to 15 pounds per acre also give good control.

To control "budworm" damage in sweet corn, caused by the feeding of the worm deep in the whorls of the corn plant, spray with an emulsion made with 3 quarts of a 25 percent DDT emulsifiable concentrate, 5 quarts of a white mineral oil of 65 to 95 seconds Saybolt viscosity, and enough water to make 25 gallons of spray. Apply the spray at the rate of 25 gallons per acre.

When the worms are crawling over the ground in large numbers they may be destroyed by broadcasting a poisoned bait thinly over the infested fields, and moderate infestations in corn may sometimes be controlled by light sprinklings of the bait in the leaf whorls. To prepare this bait mix 50 pounds of wheat bran with 2 pounds of paris green, and then add 6 gallons of water to make a damp mash. This amount is enough for 2 to 3 acres.

Hay or forage that has been treated with DDT, TDE, or toxaphene should not be fed to dairy animals or to meat animals being finished for slaughter.