Northern Nut Growers Association Incorporated 39th Annual Report: at Norris, Tenn. September 13-15 1948
Science
Northern Nut Growers Association Incorporated 39th Annual Report: at Norris, Tenn. September 13-15 1948
Northern Nut Growers Association -- Periodicals; Nut trees -- Periodicals; Nuts -- Periodicals
These results indicate clearly the effectiveness of DDT in chestnut
weevil control, in spite of numerous discrepancies brought about by the
small number and variability of the trees available for the tests. As
might be expected, programs of three applications were more effective
than those of only one or two. Of the single applications, those put on
during the latter half of August were much more effective than those
made during the first half of September, presumably because most of the
eggs had been laid by the early part of September.
These experiments gave fairly exact information on the relative
abundance of the two species of weevils. At Glenn Dale the small
chestnut weevil constituted 92 to 98 per cent of the population; at
Elkton, 61 per cent.
The matured nuts that fell from count trees were collected daily, and
one-third of each lot collected was used as a sample for determining the
percentage of wormy nuts. It was possible, therefore, to obtain a rough
estimate of the numbers of larvae produced on each tree. In 1946, from
1,863 nuts on a tree sprayed three times, 429 larvae emerged; and from a
comparable unsprayed tree having 2,610 nuts 16,494 larvae emerged. In
1947, 1,350 larvae were produced on 9 trees with an average crop of
1,361 nuts sprayed three times, compared with 14,505 larvae from 2,922
nuts on an unsprayed tree. These figures indicate that DDT sprays bring
about large decreases in the numbers of weevils and that the proper use
of DDT sprays on all host trees over a period of a few years would
doubtless reduce the infestation to a point where fewer applications
would be necessary for effective control of the chestnut weevils.
+Tentative Recommendations+
For the benefit of those who wish to try DDT for chestnut weevil
control, the following tentative recommendation is made:
Thoroughly apply +to all parts of the tree+ 2 pounds of DDT in 100 gallons
of water. For example, use 4 pounds of a wettable powder that contains
50 per cent of DDT, or 8 pounds of one that contains 25 per cent of DDT.
Make three applications, the first about 30 days before the first nut is
due to drop, and the second and third after intervals of 12 days. Unless
the entire bur, especially that portion near the stem end where most of
the feeding punctures are made, +is thoroughly covered+ with a film of
DDT, the weevils may feed without being affected by the insecticide. In
handling DDT, one should use the same care as with such well-known
poisons as lead arsenate, Paris green, calcium arsenate, and nicotine.
* * * * *
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