INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CORN 175 



When corn is stripped for fodder, the stalks left standing and the 

 land sown in small grain, the most favorable conditions are 

 allowed the borers for safely passing the winter and developing 

 into moths which will fly to new fields in the spring. 



A simple rotation of crops will also lessen injury considerably, 

 as Dr. L. O. Howard has observed that where fields which had 

 been in corn the previous year were damaged 25 per cent, those 

 planted on sod land were damaged but 10 per cent, though reason- 

 ably close to land which had been in corn. 



Bill-bugs * 



Throughout the South and often in the more Northern States, 

 Canada, and the West the bill-bugs sometimes become serious 

 enemies of young corn-plants. They are called " bill-bugs " on 

 account of the prolongation of the head, termed a bill or snout, 

 peculiar to all the weevils or " snout-beetles," by means of which 

 they are enabled to drill holes in the corn-stalks. Several species 

 belonging to the genus Sphenophorus are commonly injurious to 

 corn. One of these, S. parvulus Gyll., also attacks small grains 

 and timothy, and is therefore known as the Grain Sphenophorus. 

 Another species, S. obscurus Boisd., does considerable injury to 

 sugar-canfe in Hawaii. The adult beetles are from one-fourth to 

 three-fourths of an inch long, of the form shown in the illustration, 

 and are -of a brown or black color, marked with darker longitudinal 

 ridges on the wing-covers. The larva is a thick fleshy white 

 grub, from one-fourth to five-eighths of an inch long, with a 

 brown head and cervical shield on the first segment, and footless. 



Life History. The life histories of the different species are 

 but partially known. 



S. parvulus hibernates over winter as a beetle, appearing in 

 March and April. The female punctures the stalk of wheat or 

 timothy oats and barley are also sometimes attacked a little 

 above the roots, and deposits her egg in the cavity. This is done 

 in May or June or even up to July 1st. The larvae are to be found 



* Species of Sphenophorus. Family Calandridce. Sec S. A. Forbes, 

 23d Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois. 



