Chinch Bugs
J.W. Farmer became the Greenwood County Agricultural Agent in 1923, after graduating from Kansas State University. He held that position until 1938 and wrote many articles for the newspaper giving information to farmers and ranchers on how to improve their vocation. The following article appeared in November 1930 in The Eureka Herald.
“The chinch bugs are unusually numerous in southeastern Kansas this fall. They did not do much damage in Greenwood County as they did farther east. However, farmer after farmer in this county mentioned during silo filling time that the floors of the wagons used for hauling bundles were covered with chinch bugs. So, a serious outbreak of chinch bugs may be expected next year. The most effective way to control these insects is fall burning. The chinch bugs hibernate in the clump grasses along the edges of the fields, in ravines, and along roadsides. If these places are burned during the fall, nearly all the bugs will perish from exposure during the winter.
“Fire, one of man’s oldest allies, will again be drafted to help carry on the battle in 27 southeastern Kansas counties starting December 15.
“The common enemy will be the chinch bug. December 15th has been set as the nominal firing date. E.G. Kelly, field marshal for the campaign and entomologist of the Kansas State Agriculture College, announced. However, the burning may be done as soon as the grass is dry and should be done no later than Christmas Day. So, it’s a good case of “only so many burning days until Christmas.”
“Mr. Kelly will start a tour of all the counties December 2 and will conclude the tour December 20. He will help organize the “fighters” the first part of the trip, and go out on the “firing line” himself in the latter part of the trip.
“Hibernating in clumps of bluestem or other clump forming grasses, and under leaves along hedge rows and at the edges of woods, roadsides, railroads, rights-of-way, creek and ditch banks, and waste areas in fields, the chinch bug this year is thicker than in four or five years.
“The chinch bug moves during the early spring to wheat, oats, and barley, where it broods, matures, and marches to corn, kafir, and Sudan grass, so that to burn the bugs before they go to the wheat is the effective way of conquering them.
“Ordinarily the chinch bug does not travel more than a mile or two. Hence, bugs which winter on a farm are usually the bugs which cause the damage on that farm the following year.”
