14 BULLETIX 363^ U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGEICULTUEE. 



on the "silks," inner liusks, pitli, and other parts of the cob; also in 



ears of field corn, eatmg mto the Ivernels and cobs. At another time 



he observed it on a large woody twining bean vine, feeding on dying 



leaves and ripening pods, especially where there was an accumulation 



of webs and frass, or where other insects had been at work. Among 



other food plants he mentioned lantana, palm leaves, and the dead 



leaves of Pandanus, banana, and "various other plants." On banana 



the larvae fed m the bunch on the dead or mjured fruit and on the 



skin of the ripened fruit which they sometimes punctured, even eating 



into the fruit within. 



ASSOCIATED INSECTS. 



It has already been reported that this species usually follows the 

 attack of the corn-ear worm (Heliothis obsoleta Fab. [PL I]), which 

 is true of most other forms of stored-grain insects in the South. At 

 about the same time the rice weevil (Calandra oryza L.) enters the 

 corn but does not seem to work with the same rapidity as does the 

 species in question. Later, in all probability, another species which 

 is quite common, the square-necked grain beetle (Cathartus gemeUatus 

 Duv.) enters the ears and causes considerable damage both in the 

 field and in store. This same insect is often found associated with 

 the pink corn-worm m cotton boUs, and breeds in the same. The rice 

 weevil occasionally enters cotton bolls, especially when they are on the 

 ground, but does not breed in them, merely entermg them for shelter 

 or for hibernation. The Angoumois grain moth (Sitotroga cerealeUa 

 Zell.) also breeds in corn with the species under consideration but thus 

 far has not been found in many instances. It was observed at Agri- 

 cultural College, Miss., in a sending dated November 28. The sor- 

 ghum midge (Contarinia sorgJiicola Coq.) was also found associated 

 with the pink corn-worm in sorghum seed from Brownsville, Tex., 

 collected by A. K. MclMillan, Nov. 9, 1909. A common moth {[Nola] 

 Nigetia sorgJiieUa Riley) was found m the same lot with \hQ sorghum 

 midge and it is probable that in this case the pink corn-worm fol- 

 lowed attack of the Nigetia moth. 



Among other associated insects are the foreign gram beetle 

 {Cathartus advena Walt.) and the coffee-bean weevil (Araecerus 

 fasciculatus DeG.). The former is of comparatively little economic 

 importance, feeding for the most part on stale gram, fruits, and other 

 stored material, bemg naturally of a scavengmg nature. Neverthe- 

 less, it has been quite troublesome during the past two years. The 

 latter attacks coffee beans, mace, dried figs, and various other dried 

 articles of commerce, and is also fomid somewhat commonly in 

 diseased cotton bolls. A small ortalid fly {Euxesta anonae Fab.) 

 was reared January 29, 1914, from dasheen {Colocasia sp.) affected 

 with the pink corn-worm. This last species is without doubt a natural 

 feeder on dasheen, but no record of its habits is available. 



