22 



segment. These tubercles readily distinguish the European 

 corn borer from our native stalk borer, Papaipema nitella, 

 which is a smooth-bodied caterpillar. 



With the exception of the leaf blades the whole corn plant 

 above ground is subject to attack. Frequently injury is first 

 noticed when the corn tassel becomes broken over during 

 July. On investigation it will be seen that a caterpillar has 

 entered the terminal part of the stalk and destroyed the 

 central pith. Other larvse tunnel in the lower portions of the 

 stalk and often bore into the forming ears, destroying them 

 completely. The damage thus far cited is caused by the first 

 brood of larvae, which reach maturity the latter part of July 

 and transform to moths early in August. Eggs are laid by 

 these moths, and a second generation of caterpillars soon 

 emerge, the majority of which confine their attack to the 

 succulent ears of late corn. Three or four of these caterpillars 

 feeding on the kernels and tunneling through the cob quickly 

 destroy an ear for all purposes except cattle feed. They pass 

 the winter as nearly full-grown larvae within their tunnels in 

 the stalks, cobs and stubble. 



Control. — The fact that they pass the winter within the 

 remains of the food plant suggests an effective control measure 

 in the destruction of the stalks during the fall or winter months. 

 To destroy all borers, corn stalks should be pulled or hoed out 

 and burned. Thorough destruction of all corn stalks, both in 

 the individual gardens and in gardens of a community, is 

 essential to the successful control of this pest, for the occasional 

 stalks which it may seem hardly worth the trouble to clean up 

 are likely to harbor enough borers to severely infest a wide 

 area the next season. 



Attacking Cucumbers, Squashes, Pumpkins and Melons. 



1. Cutworms (see page 9). 



2. Flea beetles (see page 12). 



3. Onion thrips (see page 11). 



4. Melon aphis. Aphis gossipii Glov. 



A greenish plant louse which severely injures the vegetables 

 mentioned above, together with a large number of other plants. 



