CHAPTER XI 



CORN ENEMIES 



MAIZE suffers from a number of insects and fungous 

 diseases, although farmers usually do not find it necessary 

 to treat the crop in the field. The most important corn 

 enemies in the South are described in this chapter. 



INSECTS 



189. Bud worms. This is the larval or grub stage of a 

 small beetle, the twelve-spotted lady-bug (Diabrotica 



12-punctata). The beetle 

 or mature insect feeds on 

 almost any form of green 

 vegetation and may spe- 

 cially be noticed early 

 in the season on alfalfa, 

 clover, and early vege- 

 tables. It is only about 

 one fourth of an inch 

 in length ; its color is a 

 greenish yellow, and on 

 its wing-cases, or back, 

 are twelve black spots 



FIG. 100. THE BUDWORM OF CORN 

 (Diabrotica 12-punctata). 



On right, adult beetle ; in center, grub ( Fi S- 100 )- Tne e SS is 



which bores into young plants ; and on laid On Or near the young 



left, base of a young corn plant showing , , f , 



holes made by budworms. (Beetle and COrn . P lant SOOn after 



grub magnified.) germination, at a point 



206 



