The Bulletin: pest management and crop development information for Illinois

Specifically ... the critter in the first picture - the stalk borer (larvae stage).

My Grandpa used to call them "Horseweed worms" We used to find them in the Giant Ragweed plants that grew up along country road fences. Finding them and cutting the plant stalk (that had a hole bored in it), then splitting open the stalk (to check for a worm's presence), then putting them in a burlap bag for transport to the lake .... was an adventure in and of itself
Insect repellant sprayed over us, long sleeved shirts/pants (in the heat of late Summer), was employed to lessen the possibility of getting chiggers, or getting bit or stung, and to keep the Ragweed leaves & stalks from giving us a case of the "itchy/scratchy" syndrome

I haven't used them in decades ... but, back when I did, I could always count on catching some nice Bluegill, Readear, Longear, the occasional Crappie, & Channel Catfish with them. Deep, rocky points were the usual places where we would fish them, but they worked in deep brush & along cliff walls, too.

It's probably too late in the year, now, to find these critters ... at least, around here, anyway. They've probably already turned into a moth. But, if/when they can be found ... they're really good bait. (not to mention, they're free ... and since they're pests, I doubt anyone would mind having them removed from their area - just be mindful of private property, and don't venture onto private farms/lands without permission !! )

... cp

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