INSECTS INJURIOUS TO GRAIN. 



X 2 



THE STALK-BOREE. 



( Oortyna ritela, Guen6e. ) 

 Order of LEPIDOPTERA. Family of NocTciDJi:. 



The larva of this moth •is a dark livid, naked worm, with a few 

 imperfect whitish stripes, tapering a little at each end, and upwards of 

 an inch and a quarter long, when fully grown. They have been known 

 for a number of years, as doing considerable damage to various plants, 

 by boring into their stalks. They have been most injurious to potatoes 

 and tomatoes, and to garden flowers, especially dahlias and asters. It 

 is closely allied to another species, the Gortyna zese of Harris, the larva 

 of which bores into the stalk of the young plants of the Indian corn, 

 causing them to wilt, turn yellow, and perish. There is no record of 

 either species having been known to attack the small grains. An in- 

 stance of their injury to the wheat plant, however, has come to my 

 knowledge, the past season, of sufficient extent to warrant serious ap- 

 prehensions that this most important crop may have another added to 

 the already formidable list of its insect depredators. 

 ■ On the 20th of Jane I received a number of these worms from Mr. 

 A. E. Lansing, of Blooming-grove, Wisconsin, with the following note: 

 " Inclosed in a tin box you will find three pieces of straw, containing 

 worms, which are making a great destruction in the wheat tields. The 

 like has never been seen in these parts. Some call it a weevil, but no 

 one is able to tell what it is. I have seen it in all my neighbors' early 

 wheat. On© piece of two acres of very early wheat is entirely ruined. 

 This is fivf miles east of Madison." 



