44 



These records are in sharp contrast with those of Table V, show- 

 ing a general average of 37 eggs to the plant instead of a little less 

 than 1 egg to each plant. The largest number of eggs observed dur- 

 ing 1904: was 989 on 10 plants, or nearl}^ 100 per plant. Some counts 

 made during 1903 exceed by far those for 1904, and are also given for 

 comparison. 



Table YIII. — Oviposition on corn in silk, Texas, 1903. 





Locality. 



c x 



III 



Condition. 



Eggs on— 





t4 



Date. 



i 

 1 



^ 



m 



S 



„• 



Total. 



Average 

 plant. 



1903. 

 Wav 3 





5 

 3 



5 



Silking 



210 

 830 

 553 



1,106 

 511 

 633 



284 

 122 

 241 



121 

 660 

 307 



1,721 

 2,123 

 1,734 



341 



Aug. 21 

 Sept. 4 



Willspoint Tex 



. do 



707 



Calvert, Tex 



do 



347 













From this great number of eggs most likely only two or three larvae 

 would succeed in attaining full growth and pupating. From these 

 same tables a comparison can be made as to the proportion of eggs 

 laid on different parts of the plants. In every case where silks were 

 present, these bore the largest number of eggs in the following ratio 

 to the other parts of the plant: 



Table IX. — Distribution of eggs on different parts of corn plant. 





Upper 



side of 



leaf. 



Lower 



side of 



leaf. 



Silks. 



Sheath. 



Tassel. 



Stalk. 



1904: 



Number 



1,694 

 32.3 



1,593 

 27.1 



388 

 7.3 



2,197 

 40.8 



2,250 

 40.3 



138 

 2.6 



647 



n.2 



359 



1,088 

 19.5 



501 



Per cent 



9.5 



1903: 



(«) 



Per cent 











rt Not counted. 



This proportion varies greatly under different conditions, but the 

 above is quite reliable. Larvae from the immense number of eggs laid 

 upon the stalk, sheath, and leaves must inevitabl}^ perish, as do also 

 the greater proportion of those laid upon the silks. The significance 

 of this fact will be dwelt upon in the consideration of corn as a trap crop. 



Ti?7ie cmd raanner of oviposition. — Oviposition takes place usualh^ 

 between sunset and dark, often continuing much later, and f requenth^ 

 moths have been observed to lay on corn and cotton at other times of the 

 da3^ In the case of corn, the silks are usually chosen first if these are 

 present on the plant; the moth momentaril}^ alights upon the tip end of 

 an ear, bends the abdomen sickle-shaped beneath her and moving the tip 

 about among the silks, deposits several eggs. (See PL V.) After this 

 process, which requires only a few moments, she will usually fly away, 



