THE PINK CORN-WORM. 15 
To show how severe is the injury wrought by the pink corn-worm, 
an ear of corn which has been infested only about 10 months is shown 
in Plate III. The larve were swarming under the husk, which has 
been removed to show the extensive webbing and injury to the 
kernels. For comparison with this is shown another ear of corn 
(Pi. IV) which was infested originally by the Angoumois grain moth 
and afterwards by the Indian-meal moth and rice weevil. At the 
time the photograph was made the Indian-meal moth had escaped, 
leaving its webbing. The latter ear weighs about twice as much as 
the former. The ear in Plate III was the best that could be found 
out of eight infested by the pink corn-worm, while that in Plate IV 
was picked at random to show the holes made by the Angoumois 
grain moth in escaping from the kernels and the extensive and pecul- 
iar webbing of the Indian-meal moth. In Plate III the pink corn- 
worm was still working in numbers, but in Plate IV neither of the 
moths mentioned could be found in any stage. While the ear in 
Plate IV had been held in store for two years, that in Plate III had 
been stored only 10 months. 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
For some unexplained reason this insect appears to have few 
natural enemies, only one parasite having been reared. It is more 
than probable, however, that some predaceous insects, as well as bats 
and nocturnal birds, attack the moth when in flight in the fields and 
about the infested cribs. From larve received from Mr. E. A. 
Schwarz in cotton bolls gathered at Virginia Point, Tex., December, 
1878, an ichneumon parasite issued March 3, 1879, and was identified 
as Pumpla sp. (U.S. D. A. No. 1041 P.°). 
METHODS OF CONTROL. 
Assuming that the damage in Mississippi and other States in the 
South is due largely to increased production of cotton and to the 
fact that it follows attack by the bollworm, it is suggested that if we 
could successfully combat the bollworm or corn-ear worm it should 
have a decided effect in lessening the numbers of pink corn-worm. 
The corn should be gathered and husked as soon as possible, and the 
ears showing infestation by the pink worm should be fumigated 
immediately or fed to swine or poultry. This would prevent the 
infestation of other corn in store. Particular attention is called to 
this method of treatment since in some parts of the South it is cus- 
tomary to gather corn by ‘‘snapping’”’ the ears, these afterwards 
being stored with the husks intact. This practice especially favors 
the development of certain grain-feeding pests, including the pink 
corn-worm. Moreover, the closeness of the husks renders successful 
fumigation by means of carbon bisulphid nearly impossible. 
