272 THE BOOK OF CORN 



judicious rotation of crops has the effect at least to 

 diminish injury by the corn plant louse by distributing 

 its attack. Many observations show that wheat and 

 oats and the smaller grass-like plants in general are 

 commonly soon deserted by such corn root lice as 

 commence to breed on them. 



IN THE BIN AND GRANARY 



The grain moth is perhaps the most destructive 

 enemy to stored corn south of the wheat growing belt. 

 Its ravages are most marked in Texas. It attacks all 



Fig 75— The Grain Moth 



a, larva; £, pupa; c, adult moth; d, wings showing marking; e, egg — much 

 enlarged; /, grain of corn, showing larva at work (after Riley) 



stored cereal products, but corn and wheat are the 

 principal grains affected. Its presence in corn can 

 be easily detected. The corn is light and is peppered 

 full of little round holes about half the size of a 

 pin's head. 



The parent insect is a small gray moth, resem- 

 bling a clothes moth, and measures only about half 

 an inch with its wings spread. The moth lays its 

 eggs only upon hard grain. They are deposited in 

 the field, granary, warehouse, mill or elevator. The 

 eggs hatch in about a week and the young worms 



