THE SUGAR-CANE MOTH BORER. 45 



citronella; (15) oil of wintergreen; (16) oil of cinnamon; (17) for- 

 maldehyde solution ; (18) pennyroyal; (19) fluid extract of valerian. 

 No borer moths and very few other insects were captured. 



EEACTION OF ADULTS TO LIGHTS. 



Attracting the adults to lights has been proposed occasionally as a 

 means of controlling the moth borer. It seems evident, however, that 

 lights can exercise little attraction for them. The moths avoid the 

 sunlight and remain concealed during the day in dark places, such as 

 between the leaves and the stalk of a sugar-cane plant. If disturbed 

 they fly for a short distance, seeking another place of concealment. 

 As dusk approaches, however, they become very active, but daylight 

 finds them motionless again. 



Experiments have been conducted with insect light traps, which are 

 so constructed that insects which fly to the light will be killed by a 

 poisonous gas and fall into a jar, from which they may be removed at 

 the convenience of the collector. A commercial moth trap was used. 

 Some of the traps were fitted with glasses of various colors, so that 

 they would throw colored lights, and they were equipped with electric 

 lights of high candlepower in addition to the kerosene lamps with 

 which they were furnished by the manufacturers. 



In September, 1914, a light trap was placed about 20 feet from a 

 plat of young corn which was heavily infested by the moth borer. A 

 clear light of about 60 candlepower was used. The trap was run on 

 16 nights between September 16 and October 13. The catch of borer 

 moths was as follows : 



Sept. 16 , 4 males, 1 female. 



Sept. 17 13 males. 



Sept. 18 18 to 20 males, 4 females. 



Oct. 6 , 1 male. 



Oct. 9 - 4 males. 



Oct. 10 1 male. 



Total males 41 to 43. 



Total females 5 



Borer moths were caught on only about one-third of the nights 

 during which the trap was operated, and practically no females were 

 secured. The few females caught apparently had deposited their eggs 

 already. 



A much more elaborate series of experiments was conducted in 

 1915. From May 12 to June 18 five traps were operated with kerosene-. 

 oil lamps, the traps being fitted to throw lights of the following colors : 

 Green, yellow, clear (uncolored), red, blue. As no borer moths were 

 caught, the traps were provided with carbon-filament incandescent 

 electric lights, 100 watts, 120 volts, candlepower about 80. A mottled 

 brown and yellow glass was substituted for the yellow, which had 



