THE LESSER CORN STALK-BORER. 



21 



ACTIVITY OF THE MOTHS. 



The moths are very active during the night. They are positively 

 phototrophic to bright light and even react positively to diffused 

 light. This probably accounts for the fact that copulation and 

 oviposition were not observed, for as soon as cages were placed in 

 light sufficient for observation the moths became restless and began 

 to roam around in the cages. 



LENGTH OF LIFE OF ADULTS. 



The length of life of the adults of this species varied from five to 

 eighteen days in the rearing cages, as is shown in Table VIII. The 

 average duration of this period is approximately the same in both 

 sexes. Adult moths confined in cages and supplied with food 

 (sugar sirup) lived longer than when deprived of it. 



Table VIII.- — Length of life of moths of Elasmopalpus lignosellus, at Columbia, S. C. 



Male. 



Female. 



No. 



Emerged. 



Died. 



Days. 



No. 



Emerged - 



Died. 



Days. 



1 



June 15 

 July 17 

 July 17 

 July 19 

 Aug. 30 

 Aug. 30 

 July 17 



July 3 

 July 27 

 July 27 

 July 28 

 Sept. 13 

 Sept. 16 

 July 24 



18 

 10 

 10 

 9 



14 

 17 



7 



1. 

 2. 

 3. 



4. 

 5. 

 6. 

 7. 





June 15 

 July 17 

 July 17 

 Aug. 22 

 Aug. 30 

 Aug. 30 

 Sept. 10 



July 3 

 July 27 

 July 28 

 Sept. 9 

 Sept. 13 

 Sept. 12 

 Sept. 15 



18 

 10 

 11 

 18 

 14 

 13 

 5 



2 





3 





4. 





5 





6. 





7 









12.1 



12.7 















POLYGAMY. 



Experiments were conducted to ascertain whether polygamy 

 exists among the moths of this species. The moths that were used 

 in these experiments emerged from pupse which had been placed in 

 individual tin boxes, and there was absolutely no chance of their 

 having mated upon issuing, before being placed in the rearing cages. 1 



The male, afterthe death of thefemale (Cage 15-1113) with whomhe 

 had mated and from whom 134 eggs were obtained, was placed with 

 a freshly issued female (Cage 15-1117). From this female 91 eggs 

 were obtained. All of the eggs that were obtained in both of these 

 cages were fertile. 



In another cage, the male, which had mated with a female (Cage 

 15-1114) and from whom 192 fertile eggs resulted, was placed 

 (Cage 15-1116) with a virgin female. From this female 194 fertile 

 eggs were obtained. 



1 All of these cages are recorded in Table III. 



