PROGRESS REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN CORN BORER 107 
deposited in irregular rows, each egg overlapping the adjoining 
egg in the manner of shingles. The female rarely changes her posi- 
tion during the deposition of an egg cluster, as the flexibility 01 the 
abdomen allows quite a radius of movement. 
PLANTS PREFERRED FOR OVIPOSITION 
Although corn usually is preferred for oviposition, the eggs have 
been commonly found in the New England area on a variety of 
other plants, particularly rhubarb, spinach, beets, beans, potatoes, 
celery, dahlias, hemp, dock, smartweed, barnyard grass, pigweed, 
and cocklebur. Eggs have also been found occasionally upon most 
of the other host plants listed in the first three classes shown in 
Table 1. It has been observed that the moths usually prefer to 
deposit eggs upon plants bearing relatively large leaves or dense 
foliage. Doubtless this choice is somewhat influenced by the fact 
that plants of this character afford protection to moths from the 
sun and wind during the day. Preference is also shown for that 
portion of the plant on the lee or opposite side from the prevailing 
winds. Oviposition is not confined to plants affording shelter during 
the clay, however, as eggs are sometimes found upon young corn 
plants not more than 6 inches in height. During late May and 
early June in New England, dock, smartweed, rhubarb, and spinach 
are the most favored plants for egg deposition by the early emerging 
females. At this time corn and other preferred host plants are just 
starting their development. 
In the one-generation areas of eastern New York and the Lake 
Erie region, egg clusters rarely have been found on plants other 
than corn. 
In New England a few egg clusters have been found on plants in 
which the larvae are not known to feed under natural conditions, 
namely, dandelion (Leontodon spp.), horseradish (Radicula armora- 
cia), lettuce (Lactuca sativa), plantain {Plantago spp.), oxalis 
{Oxalis spp.), and rye (Seoale cereale). 
OVIPOSITION HABITS OF FEMALES IN CONFINEMENT 
In confinement the moths frequently deposited eggs upon the 
interior of lantern-globe cages as well as upon the leaves of suscep- 
tible host plants which were provided for egg deposition. When 
the moths were confined in cages constructed of transparent paper 
and lacking any vegetation, but which were adequately supplied with 
moisture, they readily deposited their egg clusters upon the paper 
walls of these cages. This habit of the moths was utilized to advan- 
tage when large numbers of egg clusters were needed for egg-parasite 
and other studies. 
TOTAL NUMBER OF EGGS DEPOSITED BY EACH FEMALE 
Judging from oviposition records obtained in confinement, Py- 
rausta nubilalis is very prolific. Tables 34 and 35 show the average, 
maximum, and minimum number of eggs which were deposited by 
the females of the first and second generations when confined in 
lantern-globe cages at Arlington, Mass., for each year during the 
period from 1918 to 1921, inclusive. 
