UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN No. 539 
Contribution from the Bureau of Entomology 
L. O. HOWARD, Chief 
Washington, D. C. 
PROFESSIONAL PAPER. 
September 8, 1917 
THE LESSER CORN STALK-BORER. 1 
By Philip Luginbill and Geo. G. Ainslie, Entomological Assistants, Cereal and 
Forage Insect Investigations. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. 
Introduction 1 
Economic history 2 
Systematic history and synonymy 3 
Geographical distribution 4 
Food plants 5 
Recent injuries 6 
Descriptions 8 
Seasonal history 12 
Rearing methods 23 
Natural enemies 24 
Methods of control 24 
Literature cited 25 
INTRODUCTION. 
Although the lesser corn stalk-borer (Elasmopalpus lignosellus 
Zell.) heretofore has occurred in injurious abundance only in sporadic 
outbreaks, it now has become an insect of considerable economic 
importance in the Southern States, since crops grown in the poorest 
types of soils, or in soils lacking humus, are usually the most seriously 
affected. The injuries to plants by larvse of this species sometimes 
resemble closely those of certain beetle larvae commonly known as 
"budworms" (Diabrotica 12-punctata Fab.) and it seems probable 
that injuries frequently attributed to the latter are in reality the 
work of the lesser corn stalk-borer. 
While engaged in other investigations early in the season of 1913 
near Columbia, S. C, the senior author was informed by the authori- 
ties superintending the State farm near that city that the lesser corn 
stalk-borer was responsible for considerable damage to their field 
crops almost every year. Investigations begun immediately were 
continued through 1914 and 1915. The junior author, while engaged 
in certain investigations in Florida during the winter of Nl 91 3-1 4, 
encountered this same species in destructive numbers. 
The following paper, therefore, is a compilation of the results ob- 
tained from studies made at Columbia, S. C, during the years 1913— 
1915 by the senior author (27) 2 and at Lakeland, Fla., in 1913-1914, 
by the junior author. 
J The authors wish to acknowledge the cooperation of A. H. Beyer and H. L. Dozier in field investiga- 
tions. 
2 Reference is made by number to "Literature cited," p. 25. 
)°— Bull. 539—17 1 
