CHAPTER XI 



CORN— ENEMIES 



Maize suffers from a number of insects and fungous 

 diseases, although farmers usually do not find it necessary 

 to treat the crop in the field. The most important com 

 enemies in the South are described in this chapter. 



Insects 

 189. Budworms. — This is the larval or grub stage of a 

 small beetle, the twelve-spotted lady-bug {Diabrotica 



1 2-punctata) . The beetle 

 or mature insect feeds on 

 almost any form of green 

 vegetation and may spe- 

 cially be noticed early 

 in the season on alfalfa, 

 clover, and early vege- 

 tables. It is only about 

 one fourth of an inch 

 in length ; its color is a 

 greenish yellow, and on 



its wing-cases, or back, 

 100. — The Bddwohm of Cokn , , , , i 



(Diabroiical2-punctata). ^.re twelve black spotS 



On right, adult beetle ; in center, grub (^^S- 100). The egg is 



which bores into young plants ; and on laid On Or near the yOUng 

 left, base of a young com plant showing | , ., 



holes made by budworms. (Beetle and ^°^^ plant SOOn alter 



grub magnified.) germination, at a point 



206 



Fig. 



