The Bulletin 
15 
eaten by the adults of the southern corn root-worm have a tendency 
to be square instead of being round. Not infrequently these beetles eat 
the tender leaves just above the seed leaf until the unfolding leaves 
are completely cut off. In this respect their work resembles the work 
of certain cut-worms, species not determined, which have the habit of 
Figure 6. Adult female Southern Corn Bill Bug ovipositing in corn, normal position. 
crawling up the stalk and cutting off the unfolding leaves. In all the 
fields examined, however, the work of the adult root-worms was much 
more common than the work of the cut-worms. 
In general, farmers do not distinguish clearly between the work of 
the adult corn bill bugs on young corn and the work of the southern 
corn root-worm. The work of the corn root-worm is most conspicuous 
2 
