Linnaeus, that it is grown from cuttings which are laid lengthwise 
in the rows, that it grows from late spring through the warm months 
of the year, and that it must be cut before it is damaged seriously 
by cold weather. 
The plant does not produce seeds in Louisiana, though it does in 
tropical countries and occasionally in southern Florida and the 
southern tip of Texas. The stalks are cut in the fall, the leafy tops 
and side leaves are trimmed off and left on the fields, and the stalks 
are ground in the mill, this being the first step in the manufacture 
of sugar. The leaves and tops-left on the ground usually are called 
the " trash," but by some " shucks," and by others " flags." 
The principal insect injurious to sugar cane in the United States 
is a moth generally known in the larva stage as "the borer," but 
it is distinguished from other boring insects of sugar cane by the 
names " moth borer " and " lesser moth borer." It is a member of 
the order Lepidoptera, family Pyralidae and subfamily Crambinae, 
and has the scientific name Diatraea saccTmralis Fabricius, variety 
crambidoicles Grote. It is this insect which is considered in the 
following pages. 
CHARACTER OF INJURY TO SUGAR CANE. 
The work of many insects is apparent immediately, even to the 
untrained observer, but the injury due to the sugar-cane moth borer, 
familiarly known as the " borer," is the more serious for the reason 
that it is not noticeable except on close examination. To the casual 
observer one field of sugar cane is like many others. If the leaves 
are pulled away from a stalk, however, a few holes may be observed 
in the rind and perhaps a quantity of sawdustlike material may 
be seen clinging to the stalk. This is evidence that the moth borer 
has been at work. If the stalk is split lengthwise, tunnels about an 
eighth of an inch wide may be found running for several feet, 
several tunnels sometimes joining in such a way that the plant is 
greatly weakened and is easily blown down by a high wind. 
It is evident that such injury must occasion various forms of 
loss, in tonnage of cane, pounds of manufactured sugar, etc. The 
injury is rendered even more serious by the insidious habits of the 
insect, since the full amount of damage is underestimated by the 
average planter. Only by walking through the field and examining 
stalk after stalk can any definite idea of the full amount of injury 
be obtained. 
ESTIMATE OF LOSSES. 
Not only are the mature canes injured greatly by the moth borer, 
but man} 7 young plants, especially in the early summer, are killed. 
(See " Effect on young cane — ' dead hearts,' " p. 5.) As many as 100 
