THE PINK COEN-WOEM. 15 



To show how severe is the injury wrought by the pink corn-worm, 

 an ear of corn which has been infested only about 10 months is shown 

 in Plate III. The larvae were swarming under the husk, which has 

 been removed to show the extensive webbing and injury to the 

 kernels. For comparison with this is shown another ear of corn 

 (PI. IV) which was infested originally by the Angoumois grain moth 

 and afterwards by the Indian-meal moth and rice weevil. At the 

 time the photograph was made the Indian-meal moth had escaped, 

 leaving its webbing. The latter ear weighs about twice as much as 

 the former. The ear in Plate III was the best that could be found 

 out of eight infested by the pink corn-worm, while that in Plate IV . 

 was picked at random to show the holes made by the Angoumois 

 grain moth in escapmg from the kernels and the extensive and pecul- 

 iar webbing of the Indian-meal moth. In Plate III the pink corn- 

 worm was still working in numbers, but in Plate IV neither of the 

 moths mentioned could be found in any stage. While the ear in 

 Plate IV had been held in store for two years, that in Plate III had 

 been stored only 10 months. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



For some unexplained reason this insect appears to have few 

 natural enemies, only one parasite having been reared. It is more 

 than probable, however, that some predaceous insects, as well as bats 

 and nocturnal birds, attack the moth when in flight in the fields and 

 about the infested cribs. From larvae received from Mr. E. A. 

 Schwarz in cotton bolls gathered at Virginia Point, Tex., December, 

 1878, an ichneumon parasite issued March 3, 1879, and was identified 

 as Pimpla sp. (U. S. D. A. No. 1041 P.°). 



METHODS OF CONTROL. 



Assuming that the damage in Mississippi and other States in the 

 South is due largely to increased production of cotton and to the 

 fact that it foUows attack by the boUworm, it is suggested that if we 

 Could successfully combat the bollworm or corn-ear worm it should 

 have a decided effect in lessening the numbers of pink corn-worm. 



The corn should be gathered and husked as soon as possible, and the 

 ears showing infestation by the pink worm should be fumigated 

 immediately or fed to swine or poultry. This would prevent the 

 infestation of other corn in store. Particular attention is called to 

 this method of treatment since in some parts of the South it is cus- 

 tomary to gather corn by ''snapping'' the ears, these afterwards 

 being stored with the husks intact. This practice especially favors 

 the development of certain grain-feeding pests, including the pink 

 corn-worm. Moreover, the closeness of the husks renders successful 

 fumigation by means of carbon bisulphid nearly impossible. 



