8 BULLETIN 106, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 
this genus (Horistonotus curiatus Say) as one of the worst pests in 
South Carolina. 
Mr. Vernon King, of this office, is at present investigating a very 
serious outbreak of Horistonotus uhlerti in Missouri and has pre- 
pared the following preliminary account of this species: 
Horistonotus uhlerii Horn is a serious pest 
to corn in southeastern Missouri, and to 
corn, cotton, and cowpeas in northeastern 
Arkansas, and has been reported from the 
Carolinas and Illinois. 
The larve may be found about the roots 
of their host plants in large numbers, nearly 
50 having been taken from one hill of corn. 
Adults, pupz, and larvee can be seen in June, 
all beneath the surface of the soil, and later 
the adults will be found above the ground, 
resting on the plants. The eggs are probably 
laid about the end of June in the soil, on or 
about the roots of corn and cowpeas, for 
minute lary have been taken early in July. 
In May and June the larvie are most plenti- 
ful, but as the season advances they become 
scarce, and finally disappear by the time 
winter sets in. By the third week in August 
the adults can no longer be found. Under 
laboratory conditions the larve pass the 
winter partly grown, and no doubt in nature 
they hibernate in the same form, but in 
what location is not yet known. 
Although corn, cowpeas, and cotton are 
the main hosts of this insect, the larve feed 
on the roots of Johnson grass (Sorghum 
halepense) and have been reported as feed- 
ing on crab grass. 
Infested corn plants become wilted and 
stunted, with leaves of a bluish shade, and 
brown at the tips, standing out from the 
Fie. 3.—The corn and cotton wire- stalk stiffly instead of bending over grace- 
ome tcaed Bilis parca ana Rita fully as in a healthy plant. Deprived of 
fOncialv e- i ~ "most of the roots through the work of the 
larvee, the plant can be pulled up with little 
effort. Weak individuals soon succumb, leaving gaps in the rows, but the 
more vigorous plants put forth new roots in abnormal numbers. These are 
matted together and distorted, and although the plants survive, only nubbins 
are produced. Tall and apparently healthy plants may have larve among the 
roots without damaging the corn materially. The infestation, therefore, is 
not confined to the impoverished areas. 
In cowpeas the fibrous roots suffer most, the thicker roots being perforated, 
so that the plants become yellow and dwarfed and fail to vine. 
Cotton is injured in the early stages by the larve boring into the seed and 
injuring the very young plants, checking the growth so much that the plant 
dies or struggles along only to produce little or no cotton. 
