INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OP CALIFORNIA. 



397 



# Nature of Work. — This species is perhaps most commonly known 



in California as the corn ear-worm, from its attacks upon the ears of 

 corn. The larva? enter near 

 the silk end and destroy 

 either the tip or the whole 

 car. The damage done is 

 often enormous. The fruit 

 of the tomato is also at- 

 tacked, the worms eating 

 large holes into the bot- 

 toms or sides, and thus 

 causing decay. In the 

 Southern States t h i , c » 

 species works upon the 

 cotton bolls and is there 

 known as the cotton boll- 

 worm. 



Distribution. — This pest 

 is exceedingly common in 

 all parts of the State. 



Food Plants.— The fol- 

 lowing are some of the 

 common food plants of 

 this worm: alfalfa, beans, 

 cabbage, clover, corn, cot- 

 ton, geranium, gladiolus, 

 g r a p e, hemp, henbane, 

 nialva, mignonette, okra, 

 peach, pea, pear, pepper, 

 pumpkin, squash, straw- 

 berry, sunflower, tobacco 

 and tomato. 



Natural Enemies. — 

 Natural enemies do little 

 effective work in controlling this pest. The tachina fly (Frontina 

 armi gent Coq.) prej^s upon it in California. 



Fig. 3 97. — The corn ear-worm, Chloridea obso- 

 letu (Fab.). Larvae feeding on an ear of sweet 

 corn. Natural size. (Original) • 



