consequently the corn-growers of those Middle States are naturally impatient at 

 the apparent slowness in determining whether or not the Corn Borer has obtained 

 a foothold. 



At the St. Louis meeting differences of opinion were expressed as to the 

 amount of damage the Corn Borer was capable of doing. It would seem that the 

 common coarse field corn is not attacked ; if this should turn out to be the case, 

 the possibility of damage in the great corn states is small. Moreover, single-brood- 

 edness for the northern areas of corn culture, the possibility of cultural control 

 by the elimination of weeds, and the possibility of effective egg parasitism by 

 Trichogramma mimitum which destroyed some 43 per cent, of the egg masses 

 of the second brood in Massachusetts in 1919, are all hopeful factors in the situa- 

 tion. 



On the other hand, it was pointed out by several entomologists that inasmuch 

 as the importance of the Corn Borer has not yet been definitely determined, and 

 there is a possibility of its being a very serious pest, the authorities should do 

 everything in their power noiv to control it and to prevent its distribution. The 

 action of the federal bureau, however, in asking Congress for half a million dol- 

 lars instead of two millions recommended at the Albany-Boston Conference was 

 criticized. 



Dr. Marlatt, in defending the attitude of the Bureau, said that the program 

 and policy of the Department of Agriculture is : "to make as promptly as possible 

 a thoroughgoing investigation to determine the actual necessities of the case and 

 the possibilities of control. The first consideration under this plan is the determi- 

 nation of the distribution of the insect ; the second, to demonstrate on a large 

 scale what may be done to control it ; and the third, to co-operate with the several 

 states in quarantine and other measures to prevent spread." He considered that 

 under the circumstances it was unwise to ask Congress for more than half a 

 million. 



Insects liable to be mistaken for the European Com Borer. 



As many lepidopterous borers of minor importance occur in the stems of 

 plants they are liable to be mistaken for the European Corn Borer. It is, there- 

 fore, important to be able to distinguish the former from the latter. 



The more common lepidopterous borers may be grouped as follows (after 

 Mosher, Journ. Econ. Ent., June, 1919 ) : 



Acgeriidac — Melittia satyriniformis — Squashvine borer. 



Tortricidae — Many Eucosmids — Codling Moth. 



Gelechiidac — ^Phthorimaea operculella — Potato tuber moth ; Metzneria lapel- 

 la — burdock borer ; Sitotroga cerealella — angoumois grain moth. 



Oecophoridac — Depressaria heracliana — Parsnip webworm. 



Phycitidae — Elasmopalpus lignosellus — Lesser cornstalk borer. 



Crambidae — Diatraea zeacolella — Larger conrstalk borer. 



Pyraustidae — Pyrausta nubilalis — European Corn Borer ; Pyrausta penitalis 

 — ^Polygonum borer. 



