Ws: AS, Be E. Bull 95; Part IT. Gon Tie Aprilj22. loan 
PAPERS ON CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS. 
THE MAIZE BILLBUG. 
(Sphenophorus maidis Chittn.) 
IB 1D (Oh Ge 1eGoior Ene 
Entomological Assistant. 
INTRODUCTION. 
There are several species of the genus Sphenophorus that have been 
reported as being enemies to young corn in early spring. Heretofore 
these reports have always been made in connection with fields of 
grass, timothy sod, or lands recently reclaimed by drainage, and the 
depredations were on the first cultivated crop following these 
conditions. 
Dr. S. A. Forbes ¢ records eight species of Sphenophorus the adults 
of which are known to attack young corn. Dr, C. V. Riley, in the 
report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1881 and 1882, records 
Dr. L. O. Howard’s observations on the habits and natural history 
of S. robustus and gives a description of the imago, larva, and pupa, 
Dr. Howard having found and reared these from specimens taken 
from young corn plants at Columbia, S. C. Dr. F. H. Chittenden, 
however, in a paper entitled “ On the species of Sphenophorus related 
to pertinax Oliv., with descriptions of other forms,”” with refer- 
ence to S. robustus, says: 
This species ranges from Indiana and Michigan through Wisconsin, Minne- 
sota, and western Kansas to California. It is a northern form, not occurring in 
the East. Nothing appears to be known of its habits, reference to robustus 
and its injuries to corn being due to a distinct species, my S. maidis. 
Dr. Chittenden had before him, while describing S. maidis, among 
numerous other specimens, the one specimen from Columbia, 8. C., 
reared by Dr. Howard. According to his statement ma/dis is a valid 
species and quite distinct from S. robustus. 

“Twenty-third Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois, 1905. 
> Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vol. 7, p. 57, 1905. 
fat 
