INSECTS AFFECTING CORN 



111 



which disturbs the eggs and consequently causes many of 

 them to be destroyed by the severity of freezing. 



145. Cutworms. Cutworms are one of the most com- 

 mon enemies of the corn crop. Like wireworms, they are 

 common only in or near sod land. They are usually grayish- 

 brown in color, and are from 1 to IJ/g inches long. They 

 attack the corn plants at night and cut them off just at 

 the surface of the ground. 



Fields of corn are often com- 

 pletely destroyed by them. 

 Fall plowing, as suggested 

 for wireworms, is somewhat 

 effective with cutworms, 

 though they arc not entirely 

 controlled by this treatment. 

 Thorough cultivation until 

 corn planting time is also 

 effective, as many of the 

 worms are injured by the 

 cultivation, and if nothing 



is allowed to grow they have difficulty in getting food. The 

 most efficient method of control is rotation of crops, with 

 fields left in grass not more than two years in succession. 

 Poison is sometimes used, though it is much more effective 

 and practical in the garden than in the field. A mixture of 

 1 pound of Paris green and 30 pounds of bran, scattered in 

 little piles near the hills of corn, will destroy many of the 

 worms. A little sirup or sugar added to this mixture makes 

 it more effective. 



146. Army Worm. The arm}- worm is a name given 

 to certain types of cutworms when they appear in large 

 numbers and move from field to field. They usually attack 

 plants later in the season than the common cutworms, and 

 eat the upper parts of the plants rather than those just at 

 the surface of the ground. The most effective trentment 



F'igure 44. — Army worm and adult moth. 



