72 



GRASSHOPPERS AND OTHER INJURIOUS INSECTS OF 1911 AND 1912. 



beetles were observed moving about, 



while some of the others were secluded 



in moist places, and still others feeding. 



The reason for this is probably due to the 



fact that on July 4th it rained, but dur- 

 ing the four days following the sun 



dried the surface of the soil. It must 



also be noted that this pest thrives best 



in low bottom land where there is more 



or less moisture. There were hills of 



corn here and there that survived the 



attacks. The highest number of beetles 



observed attacking a single hill of corn 



composed of three stalks were thirteen. 



There were several ears of corn scatter- 

 ed over the field and more or less bui'ied 



in the soil. In every case beetles were 



observed feeding upon the kernels of 



these ears of corn. The highest number 



of beetles observed feeding upon a single 



ear of corn were 43. However, the aver- 

 age number was about ten. Mr. Spooner 



stated that he observed evidence of the 



cor-n bill bug injury as late as June 9th. 

 The spring of 1912 was late and this 



fact I believe is the real cause why 



similar injuries were observed during 



the first part of July. 



The injury to the grain crop is not 



when it is well up, say 18 inches high or 



more, but it is all done when the corn or 



wheat is just coming up. The ground 



is barren and the over-wintered adults 



are hungry; hence, as soon as the young- 

 corn or wheat appears the beetles leave the native sedge and attack the more 



tender and attractive foliage. 



The method of attack is thus; The tender 

 shoot is discovered, the pest climbs upon it, 

 turns itself upside down, that is, head down 

 and body up pai-allel to the shoot. The claws 

 grasp the shoot firmly; with its beak against 

 the shoot the pest eats a round hole into and 

 often through it, which is only one-eight inch 

 or less in diameter. While eating the head is 

 kept moving a little from side to side and 

 backward and forward, sometimes a very little 

 and sometimes a great deal, enough so that 

 in place of a round hole it would sometimes 

 be a long narrow and deep slit. In no case 

 did I observe in green foliage a hole to be 

 deeper than the full length of the beak, how- 

 ever in kernels of moist corn where several 

 beetles were feeding, the entire contents of the 

 kernel would often be eaten out. Where two 

 or more punctures to a single shoot was made, 

 the plant was sure to die. This is when the 

 real damage is done. In most cases, the punc- 

 tures were made from one inch above the soil 

 to at least three-eights of an inch below the 

 surface of the soil. 

 From observations made in the field and at the insectary the beetles were 



found to feed upon the tender shoots, but during bright, sunshiny days, the 



Fig. 51. Details of injury to corn plant, 



before and after unfolding of 



first leaves. Babcock. 



Fig. 52, Dorsal view of Sphenoph 

 riis parvoliis. Original. 



