INSECTS AND PESTS MAY BE PLENTIFUL THIS YEAR

This could be the year for the insects.

Unusually mild weather is bringing out the summer pests early, say agriculture and pest control officials.

"Farmers could face a troublesome crop of insects this year," said Ray Nabors, area extension service entomologist with the Missouri Extension office at Caruthersville. "We could see a run by the European corn borer, or we could see a return of the cotton boll worm."

Farmers aren't the only people who will notice an increase in pests.

"We're already receiving calls on sightings of ants, wasps and a few other small insects," said Dorothy Payne of General Pest Control, 1403 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.

"They (insects) are out earlier," said Elizabeth Knote of Cape Kill Pest Control, 33 N. Frederick in Cape Girardeau. "We're seeing spiders, oriental cockroaches and even box elder bugs already. This is almost a full month earlier than unusual."

"It's anybody's guess what may happen on the farm," said Nabors. "Long range insect forecasting is about as accurate as long-range weather forecasting, but the weather does depict what type of insect species that will be in the area."

He explains:

"If the winter is a mild one, you can expect to see southern insects in the dominant roles in the area," he said. "This is always bad news, because the species south of us are more devastating. If we have a cold winter, we'll probably be seeing insects from the northern area."

This year's insects are expected to arrive earlier, adds farm agronomist Dale Klobe of the New Madrid extension office.

"Mild winters are conducive to insect problems," said Klobe. "And, especially if the farmers haven't been good sanitarians and haven't destroyed last year's crop residue."

Among insects expected in the Southeast Missouri area are grub worms, army worms, wire worms, cotton thrips and bean leaf beetles.

Nabors and Klobe agree that an anticipated cool spell this week would have little effect on reducing insects.

"It could slow them down," said Nabors. "But, insects are used to cool weather. It would take temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s to have any effect now, and with temperatures like that, the crops would be injured, too."

The farm insects differ from one area to another.

"Alfalfa weevils, been leaf beetles and flea beetles are most likely to appear in Illinois," said Kevin Steffey, field crop entomologist at the University of Illinois. "The early warm weather will give them a head start at growing."

Steffey added that the only way to keep the populations down would be a hard freeze.

"A freeze now would kill alfalfa weevils," he said. "But, it would also hurt the alfalfa."

Weather makes a big difference with all types of insects around the homes, say Payne and Knote.

"If it's warm, like the 60- and 70-degree temperatures we have had recently, the pests will come out," said Payne. "A little later we'll be seeing the termites swarming."

"We already have a large population of various insects in the area," said Knote. "We might lose a few with a cold spell, but it would have to be an extended cool spell with temperatures around or under the 30-degree mark.

"We haven't had mosquitoes yet, however," said Knote. "But, it's been pretty dry. You have to have standing water to produce mosquitoes."

Mosquitoes have been reported in rural areas, however.

"We have had reports of mosquitoes and flies in the Bootheel area," said Nabors.