THE SO-CALLED CURLEW BUG. 61 



feeding thereon. Later, roots sent to the bureau by Mr. Swindell 

 contained larvae in both the crowns and roots. In nearly every case 

 there was a cavity containing a larva in the crown of the plant just 

 above the roots. 



Mr. S. L. Willard, Washington, N. C, under date of July 20, 1893, 

 complained also of injury to rice, stating that the depredations had 

 been observed in his neighborhood since 1886. 



Under date of July, 1895, Mr. B. A. Hallet, of Mount Olive, N. C, 

 complained that the insect had completely destroyed the upland rice 

 crop of that section. 



In August, 1910, Mr. J. W. Mason, of Edenton, N. C, through 

 Representative J. H. Small, stated that the insect had attacked both 

 corn and peanuts in his neighborhood, killing corn and seriously 

 injuring peanuts. 



Mr. R. I. Smith, of the North Carolina Agricultural Experiment 

 Station, states that where rice is grown this grain appears to be its 

 favorite food, as the insect is ten times more abundant in rice fields 

 than in cornfields. The eggs are placed in the corn plant above the 

 roots, as shown in figure 21,5. The larvae work downward, eventually 

 pupating at the lower end of the root, as shown in figure 21, c. 



In nearly all of our records of injuries by this species, attention is 

 called to the fact that its attacks are upon low or swampy land. 

 The very nature of its food plants would indicate that the natural 

 habitat of this species is in low or swampy lands. In a great many 

 cases such lands are either subject to overflow or the plants are mora 

 or less submerged in water for considerable periods of time. While 

 the insect is not aquatic, it most certainly is capable of living and 

 developing on submerged plants without suffering material incon- 

 venience therefrom. In the cornfields they are often found working 

 several inches below the surface of soil thoroughly saturated with 

 water. Farther on, it will be noted that the adult can also live sub- 

 merged in water without apparent inconvenience. 



INJURIES TO CORN BY LARV.E. 



While, as will be shown, corn is injured both by adults and larvae, 

 attacks by the latter are by far the most fatal to the plant. Good 

 illustrations of a serious attack from a larva of this species are shown 

 in Plates VI, VII, and VIII, from photographs of a field belonging to 

 the Messrs. Shannonhouse, on Harveys Neck, N. C, along the shore of 

 Albemarle Sound. While it is probabry true that the insect is much 

 more abundant in rice fields, it must be borne in mind that the area 

 of rice culture is Very small compared with that of corn. While 

 local injuries to rice may be very severe, nevertheless the greatest 

 losses from attacks of this insect most certainly fall upon corn grow- 

 ers, especially those whose fields are on low or bottom lands. As 



