appear and a new cycle is begun. The insect is thus two 

 brooded. 



The injury to the wheal occurs while the insect is in the 

 larval stage. The larvae arc provided with strong jaws with 

 which they gnaw the fibre of the stem near a node or joint, 

 arresting the proper fidwing of the sap to the head. As a con 

 sequence the heads are prevented from filling out, and they ripen 

 prematurely. The wheat plant itself is often stunted in growth. 

 I he larvae occur in all parts of the stern but according to our 

 observations (confirming those of Messrs. Riley and Forbes 

 mosl often, l>\ far, in the straw just above the second node or 

 joint below the head. In a hunch of straws received last tall 

 from Kiis>cll count) over seventy-five per cent, of the straws 

 were infested. In these straws 40 per cent, of the pupae were 

 found above the first node below tile head : 50 per cent, above 

 the second node and 10 per cent, elsewhere. 



In all cases the pupae were found very close to. if not quite 

 at the node. When not ensconced in a gnawed-OUt cell in tin.' 

 tOUgh fibre of the node, they lay just above the node, never be 

 low; and the heads of the pupae invariably were directed toward 

 the top. /. r. . the head end of the straw. This small sheaf of wheal 

 from Russell county field of M. E. banks 1 has been kept in the 

 laboratory over winter. A recent examination of twenty straws 

 from the shcat re\ ealed the presence of several adults lying quietly 

 in the pupal cells. 'Ihese adults were prematurely emerging, hast 

 ened by the warm temperature of the laboratory. Iii th( 

 straws were also observ< n half-eaten and dried larval 



remnants, doubtless the remains of parasitized individuals. The 

 parasites of the Wheat straw Worm will be mentioned in a later 

 paragraph. 



In the plate the various stages of the Wheat straw Worm are 

 illustrated. It is with the insect in its larval or pupal form that 

 the farmer will make acquaintance. No swelling of the stem 

 betrays the presence of the pest, as is the case with tin' Join! 



Worm. I he failure of heads to lill out. or a stunting "t the 

 plants, will be the onlj external indications noticeable. 



It is an easy matter, however, to determine the presence of 

 Straws from the suspected field should be gathered 



