562 Keport of Entomologists of the 



but the more common color of the front wings is pale claj-yellow 

 with a faint greenish tint, and thej are marked and variegated with 

 pale olive and rufous, a dark spot near the middle of each wing being 

 very conspicuous. The hind wings are paler than the front wings, and 

 invariably have along the outer margin a dark brown band inter- 

 rupted about the middle by a large pale spot." Fig. 4, e and /", 

 represents the moths natural size. 



Apjpearanee of infested ears. — The silk is usually partially or 

 may be entirely eaten off to the tops of the husks, and if the larvae 

 have been at work some time the husks may be wilted and of a 

 lighter color. Sometimes the husks are considerably eaten near the 

 top. If the larviB has left the ear its place of escape is usually 

 conspicuous, being a round hole through the husk about half way 

 up from the base of the ear. 



Remedies. 



When feeding on corn, the corn-worm is distinctively an " ear- 

 worm," feeding during nearly all of its larval period upon the 

 kernels, protected from exposure by the husks. Evidently but 

 few parasites or predacious inseots succeed in getting into these 

 snug retreats and hence the pests are preyed upon but very little 

 during this period of their lives. For the same reason it is verj 

 difficult to effectually apply insecticides. The only time that 

 Insecticides would prove available would be just after the larvae 

 hatch and while they are yet feeding upon the silk. The uncer- 

 tainty, however, in the time when the eggs will hatch, and the short 

 period in which the larvae remain, exposed, combined with the diffi- 

 culty of successfully applying an insecticide to'a field of corn in the 

 ear, make this method impracticable as a rule. 



Fall Plowing. 



This is undoubtedly the most practical method of combating the 

 corn worm in the north, that has yet been tested. It is generally 

 recommended by station workers. Concerning this method Prof. 

 Smith of New Jersey, says :* " The species should be treated in 

 the cornfield by late fall plowing. The general practice is to allow 

 cornfields to remain undisturbed throughout the winter, and this, of 

 course, allows the insect to rest safely until spring. Fall plowing 



* Report New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station 1S92, p. 445. 



