CORN BILL BUG AND CORN ROOT APHIS 231 



a pair of minute jaws situated on the end of this protrusion. The 

 larvae of these beetles live on the roots of grass and are frequently 

 seen embedded in the root bulbs of timothy, in coarse sedges, and in 

 salt grass. The larva is white, rarely found in corn fields, and is with- 

 out feet, having a hard head of a brown or blackish color. Pupating 

 does not take place until fall, the winter being passed in the adult 

 stage, and generally about the field where they first appeared. The 

 bill-bug does not travel far. 



With the warm days of spring the bill-bug comes forth, ready to 

 attack the young corn plant. It will generally climb the stalk and 

 thrust its snout down in among the young leaves, often causing a 

 very serious injury. These punctures may be noted as the plant 

 grows as parallel holes running across the leaf. Each row of holes 

 is made by a single puncture when the leaves are young and closely 

 rolled together. When the stalk is young and tender the corn bill- 

 bug will also bore into this portion of the plant. When doing this it 

 works with head down. So intensely absorbed is the bill-bug when at 

 work that not infrequently the plant may be removed from the field 

 without the beetle ceasing its labors. 



The life cycle is very simple. The eggs are laid in May and June 

 in the roots and stems of grasses. The larvae appear in June, July 

 and August. Pupation occurs at once and the beetles come forth in 

 the late summer or early fall. Hibernation takes place in the imago 

 stage. 



Prevention and Remedy. Sod corn which is planted after the 

 middle of June is rarely injured by the bill-bugs. Many farmers who 

 have had some experience with this pest plant their sod land the last 

 thing in the spring. There is a bill-bug, however, which is occasion- 

 ally found in swampy places, that might attack the corn as late as 

 July. All the species are much hindered in their activities by fall 

 plowing. 



CORN ROOT APHIS (Aphis maidi-radicis). The corn-root aphis 

 is commonly known as the corn-root louse. Careful investigation 

 has shown that this pest is increasing from year to year. The injury 

 done by the aphis consists in sucking the liquid food from the grow- 

 ing plant. Close examination reveals no outward injury from this 

 source, but the plant will present a dwarfed appearance, especially in 

 certain patches in the field, sometimes on low ground. The leaves 

 will take on a yellowish or reddish cast, the lower ones being affected 

 first, and later the whole plant shows a lack of thrift and vigor. 



The adult aphis is bluish green in color. It can thus be distin- 



