CORN EARWORM AS AN ENEMY OF VETCH. 
PuHitie LuGInsiLtL, Entomological Assistant, and A. H. Bryer, Scientific 
Assistant, Cereal and Forage Insect Investigations 
CONTENTS. 
Page. Page 
What the corn carworm eats_______ 4 | Life cycle—Continued. 
When a serious infestation may be The, moths or) adult]. == 3 2 
MVC CTCUP = Sees 3 ees) eee ELS aon) insecteienemicse = seco. Se 3 
Motheand caterpillar=——~ 8 27 ee Hair Controle measirese sats as. teas 14 
Closely related: species..—-----=-_<~ 5 Spraying for the caterpillars__ v4 
Beason histomyoo a = a 5 DUS noes eee ee 15 
NAECTCy Cle memes Beet ee eee 9 Poisoned-bran bait-_________ LA 15 
Mehenege 2 =e 2a oe See 9 Mechanical methods of control_ 16 
The larva or caterpillar ______ e 9 Summary of control measures__ 17 
The pupa or resting stage_____ 11 
HE corn earworm is the worst insect enemy of vetch. It is one 
of the oldest known, most destructive, and most widely distributed 
insect pests and has many names descriptive of the injury it does 
to different cultivated plants. Of 
these names the most common are 
corm earworm, tomato worm, “ to- 
bacco budworm,” and cotton boll- 
worm, the last being used in the 
cotton belt. 
The corn earworm occurs through- 
out the United States, where in the 
North it injures mainly green corn 
in field and garden, and in the South 
corn (figs. 1 and 3) and cotton, espe- 
cially in the western portions of the 
cotton belt. Tomatoes and various 
other truck crops at times suffer 
severe injury. Recently the corn 
earworm has become a serious pest 
of alfalfa and especially of vetch 
in the South Atlantic States. 
The annual damage caused by the 
corn earworm to cultivated crops, 
exclusive of alfalfa, has been esti- 
mated at $27,000,000. The damage is 
done solely by the caterpillars, which 
are extremely ravenous and consume 
enormous quantities of food daily 
¢ 
Fic. 1.—Corn earworm and its injury 
to ear of field corn. 
and Brues.) 
(Quaintance 
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