December, '21] holloway: corn borer vs cane borer 485 



Natural Enemies 



Marlatt (3) brings out the fact that the European corn borer is well 

 parasitized by Trichogramma minntiim. This efficient parasite attacks 

 the eggs of the sugar cane moth borer, but develops so late in the season 

 that it is not quite an effectual means of control. Nearly 100% of the eggs 

 are parasitized in the late fall, however, which must greatly reduce 

 the number of hibernating borers. The parasite has been rendered 

 more effective by avoiding the burning of the leaves of sugar cane left 

 on the fields after the cane is cut (4) . A tachinid parasite is now being 

 introduced from Cuba. 



Many Sugar Cane Moth Borers Destroyed in the 

 Manufacture of Sugar 



It should be pointed out that every fall the sugar cane in Louisiana, 

 some 300,000 acres, is cut and most of it (except what is used for planting) 

 is ground in the process of making sugar. This kills all the larvae in 

 the stalks, and forms what one might call a kind of "automatic" control. 

 Of course there is no such factor in the control of the European com 

 borer. 



Effect of Arsenical Poisons 



As with the European com borer (1), so with the sugar cane moth 

 borer (4) arsenical poisons are not efficient. 



Possibility of Injury from the European Corn Borer 



Judging from the comparisons given above, it would seem that the 

 European com borer will often cause serious damage in the North, 

 while if it should invade the Southern States it may be even more in- 

 jurious. 



Literature Cited 



1 Caffrey, D. J., The European Com Borer, a Menace to the Country's Corn 

 Crop. U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 1046, pp. 1-28. 



2 Felt, E. P., The European Corn Borer Problem. In Journal of Economic 

 Entomology, 13, pp. 57-73. 



3 Marlatt, C. L., (Discussion on above paper by E. P. Felt). In Journal of 

 Economic Entomology, 13, pp. 73-86. 



4 Holloway, T. E., and Loftin, U. C, The Sugar Cane Moth Borer. U. S. 

 Dept. Agr., Bui. 746, pp. 1-74. 



5 Felt, E. P., European Corn Borer in New York State. In Journal of Economic 

 Entomology, 14, pp. 85-88. y 



