6 REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST I92I 



appears that the effects of the unusually early spring were not com- 

 pletely offset, since there was a very small partial second brood of 

 European corn borer in the infested areas of New York and Can- 

 ada, though nothing of the kind had been noted in earlier seasons. 



European, corn borer. This insect was first discovered in New 

 York State early in 1919 and careful scouting that year resulted in 

 finding the pest over considerable areas in both eastern and western 

 New York. Conditions were such that the entomologists of the 

 State were unanimous in recommending the adoption of a pro- 

 gressive policy, details of which are given on the following pages. 



At the close of 1920 the European corn borer was known to be 

 present in portions of seven counties, namely, Albany, Fulton, 

 Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady and Schoharie in 

 the eastern part of the State and in Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, 

 Niagara and Erie counties in the western part of the State. The 

 past year it was found in Albany, Fulton, Montgomery, Rensse- 

 laer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie and Washington counties 

 in the eastern part of the State ; two others, Hamilton and War- 

 ren, were included in the quarantined area because of the close 

 commercial relations existing with the infested area. In the western 

 section portions of Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Niagara and Erie 

 counties were added to the infested area. 



Conditions were such in the spring of 1919 that it was very 

 desirable to ascertain at the earliest possible moment the distri- 

 bution of the European corn borer in the State; consequently bul- 

 letins and circulars were widely distributed. The Entomologi-St 

 prepared a brief circular letter which was sent very generally to 

 schools of the State, Cornell University Extension Bulletin 31, of 

 which an edition of 40,000 was printed, and the Bulletin to the 

 Schools of June ist, the latter illustrated by four admirably exe- 

 cuted colored plates. There were also numerous press notices sent 

 to the papers. The Department of Farms and Markets published 

 Circular 182 and issued a number of quarantine orders. 



The situation was further complicated by the finding of an infes- 

 tation in 1920 which centered approximately upon St Thomas, 

 Ontario, Canada. Large areas of field corn in that section were 

 seriously damaged, some 70 to 90 per cent of the stalks being 

 infested and approximately 50 per cent of the ears. The com- 

 mercial damage in one of the more thickly infested fields was placed 

 at from 20 to 25 per cent. The somewhat serious conditions of 

 1920 were followed by more severe and general injury to early 

 planted corn the past season. 



