152 



INSECTS INJURIOUS TO STAPLE CHOPS. 



the ear, where they feed upon the tip of the young ear. 

 Very often one worm will feed upon several ears before it 

 becomes full-grown, eating its way out through the husk, 



^-#» 



Fig. 86. — Corn Ear-worms at Work. The central cob has been 

 attacked by a nearly full-grown worm, which has bored through 

 the husk near the middle. (Original.) 



in which it leaves a large round hole (Fig. 87), marking 

 its exit. When full-grown the worms leave the ears and 

 go into the ground, where, three or four inches below the 

 surface, they hollow out small oval cells and in them 

 transform to pupae. From ten days to two weeks later the 

 next brood of moths emerges. Thus the complete life-cycle 

 is completed in about thirty- eight days, the exact time 



