82 DEPARTMExNT OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



A total of 253 claims for 16,517 bushes were adjusted for 

 which compensation amounted to $5,655.05, an average of 34 

 cents per bush. 



The European Corn Borer (Pyrausta nuhilalis). 



The European corn borer which has recently made its appear- 

 ance in Massachusetts presents every indication of being one of 

 the most serious insect pests brought into this country. The 

 importance of the European corn borer was realized last spring, 

 and a vigorous campaign was undertaken at that time to clear 

 up all gardens in the known infested area, which comprised the 

 towns of Swampscott, Lynn, Saugus, Wakefield, Woburn, 

 Stoneham, Melrose, Winchester, Medford, Maiden, Everett, 

 Revere, Winthrop, Arlington, Somerville, Cambridge, Belmont, 

 Brookline and Boston. A careful study of the habits of the 

 insect during the past summer has shown that we have a far 

 more serious and a more difficult problem confronting us than 

 was at first supposed. 



From the information at hand it would seem that the Euro- 

 pean corn borer was brought into Massachusetts a few years 

 ago, and is now firmly established in 34 towns, north and west 

 of Boston. It is difficult to ascertain the plant or manner in 

 which this insect was imported. In central Europe and parts 

 of Asia where the borer thrives, its food plants are chiefly corn, 

 millet, hops and hemp, where it often damages 50 per cent of 

 the crop. Hemp would in all probability offer favorable con- 

 ditions for its importation, and perhaps a shipment of hemp to 

 some cordage company was responsible for its introduction. 



The insect passes the winter as a caterpillar in the stalks of 

 corn, weeds, or any plant which affords slight protection. 

 About the middle of May the caterpillar pupates, still remain- 

 ing inside the stem or stalk where it has hibernated. The moth 

 emerges from the pupse in about two weeks (June 1) and lays 

 as many as 700 eggs. These are deposited on the stem and 

 leaves of the early corn and weeds. The caterpillars from these 

 eggs feed slightly on the surface, then immediately burrow into 

 the tissues of the host plant, gradually reaching the larger stems 

 as they increase in size. About the last of July these cater- 

 pillars have finished their feeding, 1;liey pupate, and early in 



