INSECTS INJUIilOUS TO CORN 143 



appeared and the stiilk had fallen to the ground, Jn a 

 great majorit}^ of instances but a single larv'a was found 

 in a stalk, but a few cases were found where two larvae were 

 at work. In no case had an ear filled on a stalk bored 

 by this larva. The stalk w^as often stunted and twisted, 

 and the lower leaves were invariably brown and twisted." 



One of the most injurious species to corn is *S'. ochrens 

 Lee. The life-history is much the same as that of 

 S. parviilns, though eggs have been found as late as July 

 30th. The natural food-plant of this Sjoecies, however, is 

 the common Club-rush (Scirpns fluvia tills), the roots of 

 which consist of bulbs connected by smaller slender roots. 

 The eggs are deposited in or about the roots of this rush, 

 never having been found on corn. The bulbs of the rush 

 are very hard and oftentimes as large as hens' eggs. In 

 them the larva? burrow, becoming full-grown aiul trans- 

 forming to pupa?, from which the adult beetles ap2")ear in 

 August and September. When the rush becomes too hard 

 for the beetles they often attack a comm.on reed (PIivckj- 

 mites commnuis), piercing and splitting lengthwise the 

 unfolded terminal leaves, and eating out the succulent 

 portions within. The injury to corn is done by the beetles 

 while the corn is still young, feeding upon it in the same 

 manner as do the other species. '' Standing with the head 

 downward and the feet embracing the lower part of the 

 stalk.-' says Dr. Forbes, ''they slowly sink the beak into 

 the plant, using the jaws to make the necessary perfora- 

 tion. Bv movincr forward and backward and twistins: to 

 the right and left, the beetle Avill often hollow out a cavity 

 beneath the surface much larger than the superficial injury 

 will indicate.'' As the lower part of the stalk becomes 

 hardened, they leave it for the terminal ]iortion, and when 



