340 



Many of the larvae examined were parasitised by Diptera and many 

 individuals of Masicera myoidea, R.D., were bred from them. Dry 

 lead arsenate should be sifted into the whorl when the young larvae 

 are feeding ; later, when they are in the stalks, they can only be con- 

 trolled by destroying infested stalks. The destruction of all the larger 

 weeds that serve as food-plants for the larvae will help in reducing 

 the numbers. 



Maize plants in New Haven were found to be seriously damaged by- 

 larvae that bored into the side of the stalks near the base. These were 

 identified as a Pyi'ahd, Crambus jjraefectellus, Zinck., a native species 

 that has not previously been recorded as injuring maize. Other 

 pests of maize present in 1919 include Cirphis unipuncta, Haw. (army 

 worm), which in one locahty was found infesting a field of oats, and 

 Acronycta {Apatela) oblinita, S. & A. (smeared dagger-moth), the 

 caterpillars of which devour the leaves of maize and are usually near 

 the base of the highest leaves at the time the tassel first begins to show. 

 Later they feed anywhere on the upper part of the plant. This 

 moth has a long list of food-plants, but is not sufficiently abundant in 

 Connecticut to require remedial measures. Hadena fractilinea, Grote 

 (fined corn borer) was reported from New York State ; similar indivi- 

 duals were taken in Connecticut, but seemed to resemble H. semicanal 

 Wlk., rather than H. fractilinea. Heliothis obsoleta, F. (corn ear 

 worm) occurs nearly every year in Connecticut on different varieties 

 of maize, eggs being laid on the silk and the larvae feeding first on the 

 silk and later on the unripe kernels at the tip of the ear. Apparently 

 there is only one brood annually, the winter being passed in the pupal 

 stage ; in the southern States several generations occur and pupation 

 lasts only two or three weeks. There is no good method of controUing 

 this insect on field maize, but on sweet maize it is held in check in New 

 Jersey by dusting the silk soon after it appears with powdered lead 

 arsenate and fine sulphur in equal parts. Early planted fields and 

 early maturing varieties usually escape injury. Badly infested fields 

 should be ploughed in the autumn. Minor pests of maize in 1919 

 include Anapliothrips striatus, Osb. (grass thrips), wireworms, and the 

 Noctuids, Aidographa falcigera, Kirby, var. simplex, Guen., Mamestra 

 subjuncta, Gr. & Rob., and Ceramica (M.) pida, Hair. 



Dejyressaria Jieracleana, L. (parsnip web-worm) hibernates as an 

 adult under loose bark or other sheltered places, and eggs are laid in 

 May or June on the leaves. The young larvae web the leaves and 

 devour the unfolding blossom buds of young parsnips and carrots. 

 When nearly mature the larva leaves the web and enters the stalks, 

 usually through the axil of a leaf, and tunnels in the stem. Pupation 

 occurg within the stalks, and lasts about three weeks. There is only 

 one generation in a year. The native food-plants are wild carrot, 

 wild parsnip, cow parsnip and other Umbelhferae. Remedial measures 

 are the removal and destruction of infested plants or the latter may 

 be sprayed after blossoming with lead arsenate. 



Miscellaneous pests include Enchenopa binotata. Say, taken on garden 

 beans, though its • usual food-plants are Celastrus scandens (bitter- 

 sweet) and sometimes black locust {Robinia pseudacacia) ; the weevil, 

 Baris scolopacea, Germ., from stems of Amarantus retrqflexus (red-root 

 pigweed) and Amhrosia artemisiaefolia (ragweed) ; Mompha eloiselhy 



