The Bulletin. 



49 



never had specimens. This past spring replies to circular-letters 

 clearly indicated that there were two pests which were known by 

 tobacco growers as "pith worms." One was described as a "hard, 

 yellowish flat worm working in tobacco just after transplanting." 

 Fortunately, we were able to secure specimens of this insect, which 

 proved to be the larva of a "click beetle," one of the worms known 

 under the general head of "wireworms." (Fig. 36.) The other 

 Pith Worm, specimens of which were not secured, was described as 

 "a small, soft, white-bodied worm working in the center of the stalk 

 just at topping time." 



Fig. 36.— Pith Worm, enlarged. 

 (Photograph by the author.) 



The injury caused by these pests is said to be considerable at 

 times, especially in land that has not been cultivated for several years, 

 as grown-up sedge grass. The larvae bore directly into the tobacco 

 plant near the surface of the ground. After entering the stalk they 

 work both above and below the entrance hole, eating out the entire 

 inner portion of the stalk. (Fig. 37.) The young plants which are 

 attacked by the Wireworm soon wilt and never recover. In fields 

 attacked in this way transplanting is often necessary a second and 

 sometimes even a third time. Tobacco farmers tell us that it is often 

 necessary to replant considerable areas for this reason. So far as 

 we have been able to discover, the Pith Worm, which works later in 

 the season, damages the plant in much the same way as the preceding, 

 that is, by hollowing out the stem, and tobacco farmers tell us that 



