Enemies of the Corn Crop 



The corn root-worm has ruined thousands of acres of 

 corn during the last thirty years, and yet it is one of the 

 easiest species to control, when once the farmer becomes 

 acquainted with its habits. Like most insects of this class, 

 it is useless to attempt to hold it in check by the applica- 

 tion of poisons ; it covers too much territory, and, during 

 the period when it does its injury, it is concealed beneath 

 the surface of the soil. As one becomes better ac- 

 quainted with its life history, therefore, the more evident 

 it becomes that the application of good common sense in 

 the farming operations is the only remedy needed. 



This insect is closely related to the striped cucumber 

 beetle, belonging to the same genus, is about the same 

 size and shape, but the color is a light green. The adult 

 beetles may be found feeding upon the silk and pollen of 

 the corn during the last of July and through August until 

 the corn plants approach maturity, when they lay eggs on 

 the base of the stalks, just below the surface of the soil, 

 and pass the winter in the egg state. The eggs hatch in 

 late spring or early summer, and at first eat the smaller 

 roots, but, as the plants develop the larvae bore out the 

 larger roots, causing the plants to dwindle and die, or to 

 become so dwarfed as to amount to nothing. The full 

 grown larvae are white, chunked invididuals, about one- 

 tenth of an inch long, and nearly as thick. They pupate 

 in small oval cells in the ground and the beetles appear 

 soon after. 



As the larvae do not feed upon anything but the corn 

 roots, it is evident that if a regular rotation of crops is 



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