U. S. D. A., B. E. Bui. 95, Part II. C. F. I. I., April 22, 1911. 



PAPERS ON CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS. 



THE MAIZE BILLBUG. 



(Sphenophorus maiclis Chittn.) 



By E. O. G. Kelly, 

 Entomological Assistant. 



INTRODUCTION. 



There are several species of the genus Sphenophorus that have been 

 reported as being enemies to young corn in early spring. Heretofore 

 these reports have always been made in connection with fields of 

 grass, timothy sod, or lands recently reclaimed by drainage, and the 

 depredations were on the first cultivated crop following these 

 conditions. 



Dr. S. A. Forbes a records eight species of Sphenophorus the adults 

 of which are known to attack young corn. Dr. C. V. Riley, in the 

 report of the Commissioner of Agriculture for 1881 and 1882, records 

 Dr. L. O. Howard's observations on the habits and natural history 

 of S. vobustus and gives a description of the imago, larva, and pupa, 

 Dr. Howard having found and reared these from specimens taken 

 from young corn plants at Columbia, S. C. Dr. F. H. Chittenden, 

 however, in a paper entitled " On the species of Sphenophorus related 

 to pertinax Oliv., with descriptions of other forms," l with refer- 

 ence to S. robustus, says : 



This species ranges from Indiana and Michigan through Wisconsin, Minne- 

 sota, and western Kansas to California. It is a northern form, not occurring in 

 the East. Nothing appears to be known of its habits, reference to robustus 

 and its injuries to corn being due to a distinct species, my S. maiclis. 



Dr. Chittenden had before him, while describing S. maiclis, among 

 numerous other specimens, the one specimen from Columbia, S. C, 

 reared by Dr. Howard. According to his statement maiclis is a valid 

 species and quite distinct from S. robnstas. 



a Twenty-third Report of the State Entomologist of Illinois, 1905. 

 6 Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash., vol. 7, p. 57, 1905. 



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