TACKAua] THE SPINDLE-WORM THE STALK-BORER. 719 



On the piotliorax is a long, lozenge-sbaped, smooth bhick median area, 

 with two smooth spots on the side near the front ; these, with two longer 

 diverging spots behind, form an inverted Y on each side of the body. 

 Behind are coarse gray punctures. The wing-covers are marked with 

 rows of coarse punctures along the stria', much larger than those on the 

 thorax. On the smooth spaces between the stri;c is a row of more or 

 less crowded minute i)unctures. On the base of the elytra, near the 

 outer edge, is a low smooth tubercle, and a larger one near the tip. On 

 the extreme tip of the abdomen, near the elytra, are two short diverg- 

 ing rows of fine stiff tawny hairs, which stand out straight from the 

 end. The legs are black, the tarsi reddish, piceous. Beneath, the body 

 is black and widely punctured. It measures 0.40 of an inch in length. 

 Remedies. — Until we know m.ore of its habits, its mode of life in the 

 larva stage, and its native food-plant, we are at a loss to suggest reme- 

 dies against the attacks of this insect. When the corn is observed to 

 be sutiering from their punctures, they shoidd be picked off with the 

 hand, and the young blades of corn carefully M'atched. These weevils 

 are so large as to be readily detected after a little practice. 



The SriNDLE-WoRM, Jchatodes zcw (Harris). — Boriug in the stalk before the coru- 

 spindles, causing the leaves to witlier, a caterpillar au inch long, smooth and naked, 

 ■with the head and last segment black. 



The ravages of this worm generally begin, says Ilarris, " while the 

 corn-stalk is young, and before the si)indle rises much above the tuft of 

 leaves in which it is embosomed. The mischief is discovered by the 

 withering of the leaves, and, when these are taken hold of, they may 

 often be drawn out with the included spindle. On examining the corn, 

 a small hole may be seen in the side of the leafy stalk, near the ground, 

 penetrating into the soft center of the stalk, which, when cut open, will 

 be found to be perforated, both upward and downward, by a slender 

 worm-like caterpillar, whose excrementitious castings surround the ori- 

 fice of the hole." It also bores into the stalks of the dahlia aud of the 

 elder. The brown chrysalis is rather slender, and is found within the 

 burrow made by the caterpillar. 



Larva. — Smooth and apparently naked, yellowish, with the head, the top of the 

 lirst and of the last wings black, and with a double row, across each of the other rings, 

 of small, smooth, slightly elevated, shining black dots. 



Moth. — The fore wings rust-red ; they are mottled with gray, almost in bands, 

 uniting with the ordinary spots, which are also gray aud indistinct ; there is an irreg- 

 ular tawny spot near the tip, aud on the veius there are a few black dots. The hind 

 wings are yellowish-gray, with a central dusky spot, behind which are two faint, dusky 

 bands. The head and thorax arc rnst-red, with au elevated tawny tuft on each. The 

 abdomen is pale brown, with a row of tawny tufts ou the back. The wings expand 

 nearly au inch aud a half. — (Harris.) 



Remedies. — The obvious remedy is, when the leaves are seen to wither, 

 to cut open the stalk, and, on finding the worm, pull all the infested 

 plants. 



The Stalk-Bokek, Gortyna nitcUa Guen<?e (Plate LXV, Fig. G), moth and caterpillar 

 Boring in the stalks of corn, potato, tomato, etc., a caterpillar of a pale, livid hue, with 

 light stripes along the body ; also sometimes boring into the cob of growing Indian 

 corn. 



This borer not only infests corn aud potatoes, but also the tomato and 

 the dahlia, aster, etc., according to Biley. The worm is not found in 

 the Western States earlier than June and July, aud the moths appear 

 late in August and early in September. The insect is probably single- 



