INSECTS. 139 



history of this pest,* from which the following 

 information issecured, says: "There is the best 

 of evidence that this pest has for several years 

 been working serious injury to the corn crop 

 planted on recently-drained swamp lands in 

 Indiana, hundreds of acres being thus de- 

 stroyed." 



The larva is white with brown head, the lat- 

 ter small, body becoming very robust posteri- 

 orly, so much so that it appears to be fully 

 two-thirds as broad as long, and very much 

 wrinkled. The feet are lacking. The adult is 

 black beneath, but varying in color above from 

 pale ochreous to plumbeous and cinereous. 

 Length one-half to nearly three-fourths inch. 

 The insect passes the winter in the adult form, 

 and in spring feeds on the tender parts of stems 

 of reeds and rushes, and later on on the same^ 

 parts of the young corn. In late May or June 

 the female burrows into the earth and deposits 

 her eggs in or about the bulbous roots of a 

 species of reed." The larvae burrow in these 

 bulbs, which are often the size of a hen's egg 

 and very hard, and transform to- the adult in- 

 sect therein, appearing on the rushes, reeds or 

 corn in August or September. This species 

 will probably never breed in the roots of corn. 



To get rid of this species the best method 

 will be to drain the land thoroughly and get 



* Insect Life, Vol. II, p. 132. 



