The Bulletin. 49 



nearly so, at Maxton on May 31st (1902), is an evidence that tliey reach 

 maturity quickly. There must, therefore, be quite a number of different 

 broods. 



Professor Quaintance calls attention to the fact that when the worms 

 are abundant in corn they may devour one another, thus reducing the 

 number which actually mature. He also observes — and the same fact 

 is evident to all who have observed— that the damage is not measured 

 by the corn actually eaten, but also by the large amount which rots or 

 molds as a result of the insect's work. The holes made through the 

 husk also serve as entrance places for weevils. 



EEMEDIES. 



When this insect attacks other plants, it is sometimes recommended 

 to plant an occasional row of corn for the purpose of inducing the 

 insects to attack the corn so the other crop will be spared. This is an 

 evidence that it prefers corn to other food. This paves the way for a 

 frank statement of the fact that no wholly satisfactory remedy for the 

 Ear-worm in corn is knovni. Such methods as may be employed with 

 reasonable hope of relief are mentioned below. 



As the insect passes the winter in the pupa state in the earth, fall or 

 winter plowing of badly infested lands will kill many of them. Experi- 

 ments in Kansas^ "showed that plowing infested cornfields 5 or 6 inches 

 deep in late fall and early winter destroyed practically 100 per cent of 

 the over-wintering pupa;." But in ISTorth Carolina it must be remem- 

 bered that the insect develops in many other crops besides corn, espe- 

 cially cotton and tobacco; hence fields in which these crops stand until 

 freezing weather will likely be infested as well as corn lands. Indeed, 

 if the corn matures early, the latest broods must of necessity develop on 

 other crops, chiefly cotton, hence the ploAving of cornfields only would 

 reach only a part of the insects. 



In gardens and small patches of corn, something can be done by 

 pinching the tips of the ears by hand, or even cutting off the ends of the 

 ears and feeding them to stock, to prevent the worms going dovm the 

 length of the whole ear. If the pinching method be used, it should be 

 done several times, to kill as many as possible, for some of the young 

 worms will likely escape each time. 



If the corn matures very early, it will not be exposed to the later 

 broods of worms, for the moths prefer to lay eggs on fresh silk and the 

 worms will not work readily in hardened kernels. Thus early planting, 

 and the use of early maturing varieties, would seem to be against the 

 insect; but we must remember that early planted corn is, in general, 

 more hurt by a number of other corn pests, and we do not belieA^e, as yet, 

 that the benefit of very early planting against this insect will amend 



iCir. No. 7, Kans. Exp. Sta., "Corn Ear-worm," by T. J. Headlee (1910?). 



