The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-07-05
ENEMY OF CORN CROP.
Small Caterpillar Threatens South.
ern Crop-Means Used to Destroy
the Worm.
Atlanta Journal

ACRut6 JOuTQaL
The corn crop OF the South is threatened
with total loss by the destructive onslaught
Of the larger cotton stalk borer, a new enemy
that has come TO devastate the fields of grow
Ing grain.
Entomologist Scott from farmers in all selec-
tions Of the Stale, and he has received quite
An interesting collection OF the worm and the
stalks upon which he finds his existence.
The worm Is hatched from the eggs OF q
moth that lays on the young stalk OF corn.
The period Of Matching requires little more
than week, and the moment the newborn
gins boring his way into the heart OF the
stalk, killing and poisoning the life OF the
plant
State Entomologist Scott, in an interesting
fthe worm and the remedy that must be ap-
piled to save the crop from destruction.
Entomologist Scott, in speaking OF the
worm which Is so destructive. says:
The larger cornstalk borer 1B large white
caterpillar, dotted with dark brown spots,
which bores In 70 corn stalks preventing the
growth OF The ears sn young corn and weaken
ing older stalks on that II is readily blown
down. It frequently occurs In such numbers
In corn rields that one STALK Of corn may be
riddled with twenty or thirty holes.
This insect is quite vel; distributed over
the southern States and frequently becomes
very troublesome, causing u loss of Is TO so
per cent OF the crop when 1t occurs in large
numbers. Aside from corn IT also attacks
sugar game. sorghum, and gama grass or
semain grass.
Tine adult insect 10 a moth which deposits
eggs on young corn soon after IL comes up.
The eggs soon hatch and the young Larvae
bore into the stalk from the ground 10 the
third joint and tunnel usually upward
through the path. Corn stalks affected be-
come distorted and do not form ears
There Is q second generation Of this insect
which bores into the we'll grown stalks and
so weakens them that they sre frequently
blown over. This second generation passes
the winter in the old corn stalks ready to
produce q spring brood 10 attack the next
crop OF corn.
1.-The remedy for this insect consists entire.
ly O. preventive measures. Since the cater
pillars over-winter In The old corn stalks
they can be almost entirely destroyed by
burning these stalks in the fall or winter
after the crop is gathered.
'Our method OF pulling the fodder and
leaving the stalks on the ground, or even cut.
ting the corn and leaving the butts. affords
the very best conditions for this insect TO bold
over the winter and continue 10 multiply
year after year. The stalks should be drag.
ged OF, collected and burned during the fall
and winter"
''Again, corn should not follow corn on in.
tested lands. A system OF rotation OF crops
should be adopted, 80 that corn will not be
planted on the same land two years In sue
cession. The same Is true OF sugar cane and
sorghum. Also swamps In which CANA grass
Is growing should be burned over every yeal
TO destroy the worm intesting this grass. j
these preventive measures are followed farm
ers need not suffer from attacks Of the pest"