214 



JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



[Vol. 8 



The following conclusions may be drawn from the results thus far 

 obtained : 



(1) The amount of corn-earn worm injury can be greatly reduced 

 by the thorough dusting of the silks. 



(2) The cost of this treatment is prohibitive where corn is raised for 

 grain and forage purposes. 



(3) This treatment is profitable where corn is grown for roasting 

 ears, show purposes or for seed. 



(4) Sixty-three per cent arsenate of lead is equally as effective as 

 pure arsenate of lead and costs less. 



President H. T. Fernald: The next paper will be by Leonard 

 Haseman. 



THE CORN-EAR WORM 



By L. Haseman, Columbia, Mo. 



During the past few years this pest has been unusually abundant in 

 Missouri and has done an enormous amount of damage to corn and 

 other crops. Mild winters with dry summers followed by early fall 

 rains seem to provide the most favorable conditions for this pest. Our 

 records of the past three years seem to prove this. This pest has been 

 on the increase for the three years just past and since the generally 

 recommended precautions and remedies ha^^e given little relief, an 

 attempt is being made to study the life and habits of the insect more 

 carefully in hopes that some treatment may be devised which will 

 prove more effective in controlling this pest. The work is scarcely 

 begun so these remarks will be confined to those facts which we have 

 been able to work out during the past year. 



Food Plants. — Corn is clearly the favorite food of this pest, though 

 it feeds readily on other plants and plant parts. Early in the season 

 the caterpillar works down in the growing tip of the corn. Its work 

 in the ears begins at '^shooting" time and may continue until the 

 grains are dry and hard. Green tomatoes are also badly attacked, 

 especially in the fall. Cotton where it is grown is also a favorite food, 

 the caterpillars boring into the bolls and feeding on the seeds and fiber. 

 The caterpillars are also destructive to beans, peas, cowpeas and other 

 legumes which develop pods. Late in the fall they may attack the 

 succulent growth on alfalfa, clover and other plants. They feed 

 largely as borers though they may feed exposed on the foliage and 

 tips of plants. They are very voracious when hungry, often feeding 

 on each other or other species of caterpillars. They are, therefore. 



