CORN INSECTS 225 



RefriU':n(^kr 



Garman, Psvoho, 6, pp. 2S-;?(); 44 4<). 1S91. 



Ky. Af^^r. Ex]). Sta. Uvpi. for 1890, ])p. 9-22. 1894. 



Quaint anco, U. S. Div. Ent. Bull. 2(), pp. 35-41. 1900. 



U. S. Bur. Ent. Cire. 59. 1905. 



Ala. Agr. Exp. Sta. ("ire. S. 1911. 



S. C. Aj^n-. Ex]). Sta. Bull. Kil. 1912, 



U. S. Dopt. Ainv. Bull. 5. 1913. 



The Western Corn Root-Worm 



Duthrolica longicornLs Say 



The western corn root-worm is also known as the northern 

 corn root-worm, neither name being especially ai)propriate ; 

 the former because there is no eastern corn root-worm and the 

 latter because the species also occurs in the South. Although 

 the insect ranges from Nova Scotia to Dakota and southward 

 to Alabama and Mexico, it has been noticeably destructive to 

 corn only in the specialized corn-growing region from Ohio to 

 Nebraska and Kansas. The winter is passed in the egg stage 

 in the ground, usually in fields in which corn grew the preceding 

 yeiir. The egg is about 4V i^^^^'li "^ length, oval and dirty white 

 in color. The eggs are deposited by the beetles in late summer 

 or fall in the ground within a few inches of the corn plant. The 

 female burrows into the soil for oviposition and deposits her 

 eggs in loose groups from three or four to eight or ten. The eggs 

 hatch in the spring over a considerable ])eri()d and the larvie 

 soon find their way to the roots of the young corn plants in case 

 the field is again planted to this (toj). They feed on the 

 smaller roots and tunnel out the larger ones, making a slightly 

 sinuate burrow on the side of the root just below the surface. 

 Many of the roots are killed in this way and by the decay that 

 often accompanies the injury. After destroying one root, the 

 grub often attacks a second but as a rule does not burrow into 



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