INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CORN 



169 



worm when attacking these plants, besides which it feeds on beans, 

 peas, and many garden crops and forage plants, such as cowpeas 

 and alfalfa. 



Life History. Along the Gulf Coast the first moths appear in 

 April, in the latitude of 33 about the middle of May, and in the 

 latitude of Delaware and Kansas, early in June. 



The moth is about three-quarters of an inch long with a wing 

 expanse of about 1J inches and is extremely variable in color and 

 markings. Some are dull olive green while others are yellowish 



FIG. 145. Corn ear-worms at work. The central cob has been attacked by 

 a nearly full-grown worm, which has bored through the husk near the 

 middle. 



or nearly white and with almost no markings. In the most typical 

 moths the wings are bordered with dark bands, the wing veins are 

 black and the fore- wings are spotted with black. 



The eggs are hemispherical in shape, about one-fifteenth inch in 

 diameter, light yellowish, and prettily corrugated with ridges as 

 shown in Fig. 201. Those of the first brood are laid on corn, peas, 



