206 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO VEGETABLES 



Stalks and necessitating the replanting of many hills, the smaller 

 stalk-boper works throughout the entire summer and fall, and, 

 as late as October, cuts the toughened stalks of the late corn 

 to such an extent that they are easily blown to the ground, and 

 the ears are often rendered useless by contact with the wet 

 earth. The principal work of 

 the borers is done at the surface 

 of the ground, although they are 

 often found just above or below 

 this point." 



Injury to the root stalk ex- 

 tends, occasionally, to the depth 

 of two inches. In attack on beans 

 the larvae also work in the earth, 

 holes showing where they force 

 out their excrement or make their 

 escape. In one case of infesta- 

 tion upwards of 90 per cent, of a 

 planting was destroyed. Where 

 peanuts have been injured, as 

 much as half a crop was de- 

 stroyed, the larvae sometimes pen- 

 etrating the shells of the tubers. 

 When about to transform, this 

 borer leaves the stalk and spins 



Fig. 131. -Cornstalk showing work of ^^ ^^^1 SOmewhat flattened co- 

 smaller corn stalk-borer. Natural size. 



(After Riley, u. s. Dept. Agr.) coon, which becomes covered 



with earth or excremental pellets. 

 Remedies. — As this stalk-borer hibernates in all stages — larva, 

 pupa and adult — a practical remedy is difficult to find. The 

 pulling up and burning of infested material as early as possible 

 after the crop is removed, and rotation with some crop that 

 would not be affected by this species, are desirable. The 

 smaller cereals, sweet potato, cotton, cucurbits, potato, tobacco 



