FARM PESTS 43 



Then there is the Corn Thrips {Thrips cerealium), one 

 of the Thysanoptera, or Tassel-wings, a sub-order allied 

 to the Aphides. The Corn Thrips is not more than one- 

 tenth of an inch long, black and brown in colour. These 

 insects get right in among the grain in the ear, feeding 

 on its soft juices after the manner of an aphis. All 

 weeds should be severely kept down, as they afford the 

 Thrips house room and support after the corn has been 

 reaped and during the winter months. (See Plate 8.) 



The same remarks apply to the Corn Aphis {Siphono- 

 phora granaria), a sketch of which is shown giving both 

 the winged and wingless forms. These insects breed 

 profusely throughout the summer months and hide up 

 on broom, furze and ground weeds during the cold weather. 

 We shall find Aphids or Plant Lice turning up so many 

 times in the course of this book that it will not be necessary 

 to go further into their study here. (See Plate 8.) 



Among Lepidoptera the notorious Turnip Moth is 

 also known to feed upon wheat roots, but I shall deal 

 with that insect shortly, when we can examine its 

 economy in detail. The Grain Moth {Tinea granella), 

 does a good deal of damage in . the barn. It is 

 a little dusky white insect with brown spots, which 

 spins a web to bind the grains together, feeding on the 

 starch therein. The same kind of damage is done by 

 the Corn Weevil {Sitophilus granarius), only more so. 

 The weevils are responsible for much loss. Their larvae 

 bore into the grain and so destroy its value. Both Moths 

 and Beetles retire, on reaching maturity, to the corners 

 and any dusty hiding-places in the granary that they 

 can find. Hence scrupulous cleanliness is the best means 

 of destroying these pests. (See Plate 9.) 



Ear-cockles of Wheat is caused by an internal parasite, 

 of the eel worm tribe, which is so injurious to Clover and 

 other crops. They belong to the same order, the Nema- 

 toidea, as the intestinal worms of animals, birds and 

 fishes. The Ear-cockles cause a gall to form on the 



