130 STATE HORTICULTUEAL SOCIETY. 



The larvse as they are found eating the corn from the ear are very variable 

 in color. Some of them are bright green, some quite dark, while others are 

 of a pink hue. Whatever the general color, however, whether gray, brown, 

 pink, or green, they are all lined Avith darker colored stripes. When full- 

 grown these worms are one and one-fourth inches long ; I have seen them one 

 and one-half inches long. 



Like nearly all of the jSfoctiiidae, the family to which this insect belongs, 

 this insect pupates in the ground. The chrysalis is found in an earthen 

 cocoon, a few inches beneath the surface. It seems probable that they pass 

 the winter in all the stages, as I found them late this fall as partly grown 

 larvse, as pupa3, and as images or moths. 



The moths are variable in color. I have found them of all hues, from 

 yellow to brown to obscure olivacious. Whatever the color, however, they are 

 always flecked with a darker color. The moth is an inch long, and expands 

 one and one-half inches. Unlike most of the Noctuid moths, these fly in the 

 hottest sunshine as well as in the night. This fall, in November, I caught a 

 great many of them on our flower beds during the hottest time of the day. 

 They are not easily disturbed when sipping nectar from the flowers, but when 

 they are once disturbed they dart off with a remarkably rapid flight. We also 

 took them at night, on sugar, in great numbers. If these moths all pass the 

 winter in safety, we may well tremble for the corn in the spring. I think it 

 very doubtful if these moths that were flying so abundantly this fall do any 

 mischief, as I expect they will mostly die before their eggs are deposited, or if 

 the eggs are laid they will not be in a position to do much harm, even if they 

 retain their vitality during the winter. 



EEMEDIES. 



As already suggested, it is not likely that we shall find this pest able to do 

 us continuous evil; but as it may have come to stay, it will not be amiss to 

 suggest ways to fight it. Prof. Comstock suggests fall plowing, which he 

 thinks will destroy the pupae. To this I would add the method already de- 

 scribed, of attracting them by lights and thus destroying them ; also trapping 

 them by placing dishes of sweet liquids in the fields, in which they will be 

 drowned. Nothing is better for this purpose than stale beer and the cheapest 

 New Orleans molasses, half and half. Sour milk is also good for this pur- 

 pose. As the eggs are laid on the silk of the corn, these latter remedies should 

 be applied when the corn is in silk in June, and for the second brood of moths 

 again in September. As stated above, the third brood of moths appeared here 

 this year late in November. This may have been due to the very mild, dry 

 fall. 



E. Graham, Grand Rapids : Will the Professor suggest some remedy for 

 the cabbage aphis? ^ 



Prof. Cook : I know of nothing better than pyrethrum powder. 



J. J. Parshall, Ann Arbor: I expect a visitation from the seventeen-year 

 locust next summer; what shall I do? 



Prof. Cook : Unfortunately I have never been where these insects abounded, 

 and have no knowledge of them save in their natural history. 



Question: What about the codling moth; have we anything new and 

 good? 



Prof. Cook : I can give some facts, but hesitate to make any recommenda- 

 tions in connection therewith. I have been very successful in the use of Paris 



