Wise stacy 3. Breil 95, Part T. C. F. I. 1., March 31, 1911. 
PAPERS ON CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS. 
THE TIMOTHY STEM-BORER, A NEW TIMOTHY INSECT. 
(Mordellistena ustulata Lec.) 
By W. J. Pures, 
Entomological Assistant. 
INTRODUCTION. 
The writer’s attention was first attracted, in 1904, to the interesting 
little insect which is the subject of this paper. On November 29 of 
that year, at Rives, Tenn., while examining timothy for joint-worms 
(Isosoma), a curious little larva, unknown at that time to the writer, 
was found tunneling the stems. In many cases it had traversed 
the entire length of the stem, from the top joint to.the bulb. Although 
nothing was reared from this material it served to arouse interest. 
Since that time, however, it has been reared and some interesting 
facts learned concerning its habits and manner of living. 
Thus far it has not proved a serious pest, having been found only 
in small numbers at any given point. In large numbers it would 
scarcely do any perceptible injury to the hay crop, although it could 
probably very materially lessen seed production. For this, as well 
as other reasons, it deserves more than passing notice. 
HISTORY. 
The adult (fig. 1) was described by Le Conte in 1862, but there is 
no reference in literature to its larval habits, although as early as 
1877 it was known that larve of other species of this genus inhabited 
plant stems of different kinds. 
During the early part of November, 1904, Mr. Geo. I. Reeves, of 
this Bureau, found larve tunneling timothy stems at Richmond 
and Evansville, Ind., and at Nicholsville, Ohio, but none was reared. 
In the latter part of the month the writer found a larva working in 
timothy stems at Rives, Tenn. Nothing could be reared, but in the 
light of recent observations it is very probable that they were Mor. 
dellistena ustulata in each instance. 
