32 DEPARTMENT [BULLETIN 1261, U. S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE 



EARLY PLANTING 



Since the depredations of the beetles appeared to occur mostly 

 during May and June in 1914 and 1915, experiments were conducted 

 in 1916 at Tappahannock to learn something of the possibilities of 

 control by early planting. The earliest plantings were on April 7, 

 and plantings continued at two-week intervals until June 19. Though 

 the test was too short to be conclusive, the results indicated that 

 May plantings suffered the greatest injury from Euethsola rugiceps. 



CHANGE OF ROTATION 



As previously stated, corn should not be planted after sod where 

 there is the prospect of injury from the beetle. Besides the rough- 

 headed corn stalk-beetle, sodworms and cutworms are always a source 

 of danger to corn planted on old sod land. Therefore any system 

 of rotation which obviates the necessity of following sod with corn 

 helps to avoid several serious insect pests. 



FERTILIZERS 



The application of barnyard manure or commercial fertilizers is 

 beneficial, because growth is hastened and the corn plants are thus 

 enabled more quickly to reach a state where they are less likely to be 

 injured seriously. 



HAND PICKING 



Hand picking is at best only a temporary expedient and in most 

 cases very expensive. When a field of growing corn has become 

 infested, however, there is no other hope of relief. Cheap labor 

 sometimes may be employed to collect and destroy the beetles found 

 in young corn. This work should be done principally when the corn 

 is being either plowed or thinned. 



LATE SUMMER PLOWING 



The rough-headed corn stalk-beetle enters the pupa stage during 

 the latter part of August and it is in this stage that the insect is 

 most easily destroyed, the least disturbance being sufficient to kill 

 the. pupse. For this reason, wherever possible, sod lands should be 

 plowed the last week in August or the first week in September for 

 Virginia but earlier than this for more southern localities. 



SUMMARY OF CONTROL MEASURES 



Eliminate* all old pastures or waste land, especially low, moist 

 areas, and drain such lands thoroughly. 



Pasture hogs in waste or pasture lands that can not be conveniently 

 drained and cropped. 



Plant corn early, say about April 2"0 for tidewater Virginia, and 

 earlier for more southerly localities. 



Give liberal applications of barnyard manure or commercial fer- 

 tilizers whenever practical. 



Employ cheap labor to collect and destroy the beetles when a field 

 first shows injury. 



Do not allow corn to follow sod if possible to avoid it. 



Plow sod land in late summer and early fall in order to destroy 

 the pupse of the rough-headed corn stalk-beetle. 



