318 MAIZE APHIS ITS SITUATION. 



a few holes about the hills with a sharp stick was an easy way 

 to entrap these worms, as they would fall into such holes, and 

 being unable to crawl out of them, would perish — some of the 

 holes being found half full of worms thus gathered in a single 

 night. A writer in the Michigan Farmer, whose communication 

 was fully noticed in the Country Gentleman of June 7th, 1855, 

 bears strong testimony to the efficacy of this measure. From 

 my own observations it appears that these worms are never able 

 to crawl the length of their bodies up a perpendicular bank of 

 earth, before they loose their foothold and fall. I hence pre- 

 sume the measure above spoken of will be effectual. Indeed, if 

 my supposition is correct, that these worms mostly come from 

 the surrounding fields, to the places where we notice them, I have 

 thought that a single deep furrow, struck around the outside of 

 a field or garden, when the worms are first beginning to appear — 

 any break in the land-side of the furrow being repaired with a 

 hoe — would form a barrier over which it would be impossible 

 for them to make their way — thus protecting the whole field 

 effectually and at a very trifling cost. I hope in one or two sum- 

 mers to complete my observations so that I can speak with more 

 confidence upon this subject than I am able to do at present. 



Crowded together and covering the stem which bears the ear; small dull- 

 green and reddish lice, slightly dusted over with a fine white powder. 



The Maize Aphis, Aphis Maidis, new species. 



In August, the person who is selecting soft corn for boiling, 

 will sometimes come to an ear, the stem of which is entirely 

 covered with vermin. On examining them they are perceived 

 to be small plant-lice of a lurid green color, intermixed with 

 slightly larger dull reddish ones, and an occasional individual is 

 found among them having wings and a black body. They are 

 thinly dusted over with a fine white powder, like meal, and 

 scattered about among them are seen the empty skins which the 

 larger ones have shed. Each individual is stationary, with its 

 beak inserted into the stalk, sucking its nourishment therefrom. 

 They continue upon those stems where they have once established 



