The European Corn Borer. 23 
crossed by two narrow zigzag lines darker than the rest of the wing. 
The male moth (Fig. 21) has a long, slender body, is slightly smaller 
in wing expanse, and is usually much darker than the female. The 
general color varies from pale brown to dark brown, sometimes with 
a blue tinge. The outer third of the wing is usually crossed by two 
narrow zigzag streaks of pale yellow, and there are frequently small 
pale-yellow areas on the forewings. 
The moths are possessed of fairly strong powers of flight. Marked 
moths of both sexes have been recovered at distances of from 5 to 
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Fic, 18.—Oats showing European corn borer lary infesting stem. 
nearly 20 miles from the point of liberation, while individual moths 
have been observed to make single flights of nearly 400 yards. During 
windy periods the direction of flight is usually with the wind. 
Soon after emergence the moths mate and begin to deposit eggs. 
They remain quiet during the day, hiding in patches of weeds and 
grass or underneath the leaves of other plants. During the early 
evening and early morning they fly from plant to plant, depositing 
their eggs in flat, irregularly shaped masses (Fig. 5, a) usually com- 
posed of from 15 to 20 eggs. From 1 to 133 eggs have been found 
in individual masses. These egg.masses are deposited principally 
