THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER AND ITS CONTROL. 13 



examination of this section failed to reveal the presence of the European 

 corn borer. This incident, however, demonstrates that the coastal region 

 from Portland south to York, in the State of Maine, should be very care- 

 fully watched for the appearance of the species. 



Mr. John A. Roberts, Commissioner of Agriculture of Maine, reported 

 in August that his assistants had inspected sweet corn offered for sale 

 in the stores at Augusta, Me., and were not able to find any evidence of 

 the borer. • Similar reports were received from Mr. Dudley of the same 

 office, and from Mr. Batchelor of the Maine Agricultural Experiment 

 Station. These gentlemen had previously visited the infested fields near 

 Boston, and were familiar with the appearance of the insect. 



Territory examined in Rhode Island and Connecticut. 



Reports were received concerning the possible presence of the European 

 corn borer in corn at Providence, R. I., but an investigation proved that 

 the injury was caused by Papaipeina nitela Gn. 



A similar report, received from Putnam, Conn., was investigated and 

 also proved erroneous. 



FOOD PLANTS. 

 In the Old Wokld. 



The principal food plants of the European corn borer in the Old World 

 are corn, hemp, hops and millet. Corn (both field corn and fodder corn) 

 and hop plants are recorded as being more severely injured by the pest 

 than any of the other commercial crops grown in Europe. 



Foreign literature also contains references to a. great variety of minor 

 food plants, including heather (14); artemesia (13); nettles (13); oak- 

 galls (15); kidney-bean pods (15); grapevines (18); thistle (18); giant 

 weed, Arundo donax (12); pigweed, Amaranthus retroflexus (18); fuller's 

 teazel, Dipsacus fullonum (18); virgin's bower, Clematis vitalba (18); 

 and several species of wild grasses and weeds. 



In the United States (Massachusetts). 



At the present time corn (sweet corn, field corn and fodder corn) is 

 practically the only valuable commercial crop which is seriously attacked 

 by the European corn borer in Massachusetts, although other commercial 

 crops are attacked bj^ the insect to some extent. 



Corn is undoubtedly the favorite food plant of the pest. In the absence 

 of corn, and in badly infested areas, the insect habitually attacks and 

 enters a great variety of other wild and cultivated plants. Judging from 

 observations made on the feeding habits of the species during the seasons 

 of 1917 and 1918, it would not be surprising to find it present in almost 



