232 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 12 



the majority, however, faihng to mention this feeding habit. A few 

 other writers state that the larvae forsake the hardening ears for alfalfa, 

 weeds, etc. This latter condition perhaps varies with the locality but 

 here, only a small proportion of the larvae leaves the hardening ears. 

 Most of the larvae, especially those half grown and larger, continue 

 feeding on the hardening kernels but their feeding changes in character. 

 In soft corn the entire kernel is devoured (PI. 11, fig. 7) but this is rare in 

 hard corn. The endosperm part of the kernel hardens first, the germ 

 remaining relatively soft up to harvesting time. The larvae, therefore, 

 eat the lower part of the kernels, the germ part (Lintner, 1881),^ often 

 tunneling through a dozen or more (PL 11, figs. 4, 9). With the lower part 

 of the kernel gone, the attachment to the cob is also gone so that, during 

 the husking and subsequent handhng, these kernels drop out. If the 

 shelled corn under a pile in the field is examined, sometimes as many as 

 one fourth of the kernels will be found to be thus injured. A few more 

 are dislodged when the corn is poured into the wagon as will be seen 

 by examining the shelled corn in the wagon bed. Here is a source of 

 injury often accounting for missing kernels at the tip of the ear and 

 resulting in a complete loss. When the larvae eat the endosperm of 

 hard kernels, the kernel is largely reduced to corn meal as pointed out 

 by Claypole- (1880), also resulting in a total loss. 



Finally as French^ (1882) and many others have indicated, the holes 

 made in the husks by ear worms (PI. 1 1, fig. 5) serve as entrance places for 

 other insects which in some cases do considerable damage. In this 

 connection the grain weevils of the south deserve especial mention. 

 Other insects, largely Coleoptera and Diptera may be found living in 

 the worm excrement and decaying or fermenting kernels which are of 

 lesser economic importance. 



It is a difficult matter to weigh in their proper proportions these 

 sources of loss due to ear worm activity. In the light of these con- 

 siderations there appears to be little doubt that the ear worm is one 

 of the major corn pests at the present time. 



Explanation of Plate 11 



1. An example of "rag worm" injury by the ear worm showing typical damage to 

 the heart leaves. 



2. Nearly grown ear worm larva devouring the developing tassel of the stalk of 

 field corn. 



1 Lintner, J. A. The Corn Worm, Heliothis armigera. Cultivator and Country 

 Gentlemen, November 24, 1881. Vol. 46, p. 759. 



' 2 Claypole, E. W. Heliothis armigera Feeding on Hard Corn. Amer. Ent. 3 (n. s., 

 vol. 1): 278. 1880. 



3 French, G. H. The Corn Worm or Boll Worm. In the 11th Rept. of the Nox- 

 ious and Beneficial Insects of 111., by State Entomologist of 111., pp. 65-104. 1882. 



