8 
SPECIAL BULLETIN NO. 8 
Method of Control 
The fact that the larvae feed only on the roots pf corn makes it possible to 
starve them out by planting an infested field to some other crop the following year. 
If corn is not planted on the same land for more than two years in succession there 
will be no trouble with the pest. 
CUTWORMS 
There are several different species of moth whose larvae cut off young plants • 
close to the ground, hence the name cutworm. There is some variation in the life 
history of the different species, but in general they do similar injury and the same 
methods of treatment can be applied to all. 
Life History 
The moths lay their eggs in midsummer in grass lands or places grown up in 
weeds. The larvae feed on the growing vegetation until cold weather when, being 
partially grown, they go into the soil to pass the winter. They come out in the 
spring and resume feeding. If grass lands, especially those of long standing, are 
plowed up and planted to corn, the cutworms, deprived of other food, will attack 
the young corn plants soon after they are up, cutting them off just above the ground. 
They feed at night and hide during the day. When full grown they are an inch 
and a half or two inches long, rather plump, and vary in color, being dull brown, 
gray, or black, sometimes tinged with green, either with or without obscure mark- 
ings. Their dull color harmonizes with the color of the soil. They have three 
pairs of jointed legs just behind the head besides five pairs of short appendages 
called prolegs. When mature the gutworm forms a cell a few inches below the 
Fig. 7. Bill-Bug, Much Enlarged 
Work of Bill-Bug 
