THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER AND ITS CONTROL. 7 



(Cannabis saliva) from Europe. This fact, together with the knowledge 

 that hemp is one of the favorite food plants of P. nuhilalis in Europe, 

 at once suggested the possibility that this insect may have reached our 

 shores through this medium. Early sweet corn grown in market gardens 

 10 to 12 miles inland had been seriously attacked by this pest for the past 

 three or four years, and from this it is inferred that the species was im- 

 ported about 1910, although this date is a mere conjecture. At this time 

 (1917) sweet corn was found to be the only valuable commercial crop 

 attacked by P. nuhilalis, the early crop being damaged to the extent of 

 10 to 20 per cent, while the loss to late plantings ranged as high as 75 

 to 80 per cent. Several weeds and grasses were also noted as food plants 

 of P. nuhilalis. Observations made on the feeding habits of the species 

 in the infested fields confirmed the original belief that the insect under 

 consideration was possessed of characteristics that would render it a 

 serious menace to the corn crop, and that it would be a very difficult 

 pest to control. Burning, burying or feeding the plants containing over- 

 wintering larvse were methods suggested for the control of the insect. 

 It was pointed out that measures for insuring or compelling satisfactory 

 handling of all infested material were very necessary, and that though 

 these results might possibly be obtained by local organizations of farmers 

 and gardeners instituting vigorous action, it seemed probable that the 

 matter must be taken in hand by the State or Federal authorities if the 

 insect was to be brought under control and its further spread prevented. 



Plans made for Further Investigations. 



Accordingly, Dr. H. T. Fernald, head of the Department of Entomology 

 at the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station, notified officials 

 of the Bureau of Entomology at Washington, D. C, of the presence of 

 the European corn borer in Massachusetts, and reviewed the facts already 

 known as to the dangers existing from the presence of this pest. Plans 

 were immediately made for co-operation between the Massachusetts 

 Agi-icultural Experiment Station and the Bureau of Entomology, in a 

 further investigation of the insect, in order to determine its biology and 

 methods of possible control. Special attention was to be given to the 

 food plants and distribution of the insect in the United States, with a 

 view to recommending quarantine measures that would prevent the 

 spread of the pest through avenues of commerce. 



Quarters were established at Arlington, Mass., in April, 1918, and the 

 results of the investigations to Nov. 30, 1918, are presented in this bulletin. 



Control Measures during Spring of 1918. 



During the spring of 1918 a campaign was inaugurated by the Massa- 

 chusetts State Board of Agriculture, which had for its object the burning 

 of cornstalks and other infested plants within the infested towns. This 

 work was under the direct supervision of Mr. Wilfrid Wheeler, Secretary 



