82 DEPARTMENT BULLETIN 1267, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
EARLY PLANTING 
Since the depredations of the beetles appeared to occur mostly 
during May and June in 1914 and 1915, experiments were conducted 
in 1916 at Tappahannock to learn something of the possibilities of 
control by early planting. The earliest plantings were on April 7, 
and plantings continued at two-week intervals until June19. Though 
the test was too short to be conclusive, the results indicated that 
May plantings suffered the greatest injury from Huetheola rugiceps. 
CHANGE OF ROTATION 
As previously stated, corn should not be planted after sod where 
there is the prospect of injury from the beetle. Besides the rough- 
headed corn stalk-beetle, sodworms and cutworms are always a source 
of danger to corn planted on old sod land. Therefore any system 
of rotation which obviates the necessity of following sod with corn 
helps to avoid several serious insect pests. 
FERTILIZERS 
The application of barnyard manure or commercial fertilizers is 
beneficial, because growth is hastened and the corn plants are thus 
enabled more quickly to reach a state where they are less likely to be 
injured seriously. 
HAND PICKING 
Hand picking is at best only a temporary expedient and in most 
cases very expensive. When a field of growing corn has become 
infested, however, there is no other hope of relief. Cheap labor 
sometimes may be employed to collect and destroy the beetles found 
in young corn. This work should be done principally when the corn 
is being either plowed or thinned. 
LATE SUMMER PLOWING 
The rough-headed corn stalk-beetle enters the pupa stage during 
the latter part of August and it is in this stage that the insect is 
most easily destroyed, the least disturbance being sufficient to Iall 
the pupe. For this reason, wherever possible, sod lands should be 
plowed the last week in August or the first week in September for 
Virginia but earlier than this for more southern localities. 
SUMMARY OF CONTROL MEASURES 
Eliminate all old pastures or waste land, especially low, moist 
areas, and drain such lands thoroughly. 
Pasture hogs in waste or pasture lands that can not be conveniently 
drained and cropped. 
Plant corn early, say about April 20 for tidewater Virgimia, and 
earler for more southerly localities. 
Give liberal applications of barnyard manure or commercial fer- 
tilizers whenever practical. 
Employ cheap labor to collect and destroy the beetles when a field 
first shows injury. 
Do not allow corn to follow sod if possible to avoid it. 
Plow sod land in late summer and early fall in order to destroy 
the pupe of the rough-headed corn stalk-beetle. ° 
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