120 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



About the same time we received specimens of the same insect 

 from Mr. D. H. Knowlton, Farmington, Me., and learned from 

 other sources that it was doing cousideral)le damage to sweet corn 

 in that vicinity. 



The ears of corn received, each contained from one to half a 

 dozen worms, snugly concealed beneath the husks at the top of the 

 ears, that were feeding on the kernels. In some of the ears the 

 kernels had been eaten nearly clean on the upper third of the cob. 

 In some of the ears the worms had eaten most of the silk, and 

 in others holes were gnawed through the husks at various places. 

 We at once recognized the worms as the larva? of the Cotton Boll- 

 worm, an insect that has done untold damage to cotton, corn and 

 various other crops in the West and South. This insect has done 

 more damage in the Southern and Middle States than in the 

 extreme Northern, but judging from the specimens received, it 

 finds congenial conditions in the sweet corn fields of Maine. 

 There is reason for serious concern regarding it, for if it maintains 

 itself and increases, it will jeopardize the corn packing industry. 



The damage done is not confined to the kernels eaten. The 

 sap exudes from the kernels gnawed and ferments, so that it 

 would be impossible to use the affected ears for canning. The 

 exuded sap invites a host of smaller insects and fungi to share in 

 the spoils. The husks being left open by the worms eating the 

 silks, allows rains and dew to enter and favor the growth of 

 moulds. 



It would not pay to examine carefully each ear to see whether 

 it harbored worms, small insects or fungi before cutting it for 

 canning. Practically a crop much infested by this insect would 

 be worthless for canning, and would have to be utilized so far 

 as possible as food for stock. 



If the insect confined its ravages to corn alone it might have 

 a hard time to perpetuate itself on account of the sweet corn being 

 gathered before the worms have their growth. Some of the 

 worms in the corn sent were not more than one-third grown, 

 others were half grown and only a few mature. We put them in a 

 breeding cage and the smaller ones lived until December and died 

 without entering the pupa state, while the larger ones remained 

 gnawing the ears for several weeks before entering the ground. 



We are inclined to think the larvae may in some cases hybernate. 

 The insect is quite a general feeder having been known to do 

 much damage to peas, beans, pumpkins, tomatoes and tobacco, 

 and probably has still other food resources. It should be care- 



