INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CORN 



147 



eight or nine, will be found at the base of a plant about an inch 

 below the surface of the soil, and not over 4 to 6 inches from 

 the stalk, usually be- 

 ing in close proximity 

 to it. If each larva 

 is covered with a fine, 

 loose web, to which 

 cling particles of 

 earth forming a sort 

 of case, it is probably 

 a corn-root web- 

 worm. 



Where the web- 

 worms are present in 

 any number they will 

 often necessitate a 

 second, third, or 

 sometimes a fourth 

 planting, making the 

 corn very late and in- 

 volving considerable 

 expense. The worms 

 bore into the young 

 stalks just above the 

 ground, frequently 

 cutting them off en- 

 tirely. Later on the 

 larger stalks are 

 gouged out at or 

 slightly above the 

 surface of the ground, 

 and the larvae burrow 

 into the folded leaves, 

 which when they unfold have several transverse rows of three to 

 five holes. On account of this habit these insects are sometimes 

 known as " bud worms." Strong plants will often make a new 

 start and survive the injury, but remain much behind those not 

 attacked, while most of the weaker plants will decay and rot off. 



FIG. 126. The corn-root web-worm (CrambiLs 

 caliginosellus): a, larva; 6, pupa; c, moth; d, 

 segment of larva; e, parasite. (After Johnson.) 



