REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I918 61 



seriously injured during the past year here and there by different 

 insect pests and within recent years the European com borer, a much 

 more destructive pest, has become estabhshed in eastern Massachu- 

 setts, New Hampshire, portions of New York State and apparently 

 in one small area in Pennsylvania. The possible occurrence of the 

 European com borer renders it more desirable than ever that we 

 have at hand information regarding the more common at least of 

 our corn insects, particularly those likely to be confused with this 

 recent introduction, since it is very desirable that the new comer 

 be quickly recognized so that necessary steps may be promptly taken 

 for its control. 



Com is a grass, and insects feeding upon grass are very likely to 

 injure com ; in fact, some of our most serious pests are normally grass- 

 feeding insects which find it more convenient to subsist upon corn. 

 There is also, as will be seen below, an intimate relation between the 

 preceding crop and certain species injurious to com. With these 

 considerations in mind, we have brought together under one title 

 brief discussions of a number of species which have attracted atten- 

 tion in this State during recent years because of their depredations 

 upon various grasses and specially com. To facilitate their recog- 

 nition, the following summary tabulation of characters and habits 

 has been prepared. 



Insects Affecting Corn i to 6 inches High {Injury Mostly on Recently 



Turned Sod) 



Backward, shriveling com with small grayish caterpillars at the 

 roots. Practically restricted to recently turned sod, June. 



Grass webworms 



Borers in the heart of young corn. 



Borers are slender, yellowish, brown striped, length when full 



grown seven-eighths of an inch. Mostly on recently turned 



sod, June. , Lined corn borer 



Borers, purplish brown and white striped with purplish brown 



blotch near the middle, over an inch long when full grown. 



mostly on or near weedy areas, occurs in various plants, June 



and later. Stalk borer 



Insects Affecting Corn Over 6 Inches High {Infestation Has No Relation 



to Sod) 



Borers in the heart of corn ; see stalk borer just above. 



