The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-01-14
TIE cORASTALK p0RER.
n BUG WHICH DOES GREAT
DAMAGE TO FARMERS.
n. IL. Boyer Finds That the Pest is
Very Prevalent in South Carolina
Ficlds-Bug Men Declare That the
Farmers Must Get Busy.

Philip Luginbill, federal entomolo-
gist, has secured the services of a. II
Beyer, graduate Of the University
of Wisconsin, to aid him in furthering
the study OF cereal and forage insects
Ill this state and in the states of
North Carolina and Georgia.
Under the general direction of Mr.
Luginbill, Mr.. Boyer is making Il sur
Vey Of the State, visiting farms and
sending in reports as to the preva-
lencc Of the cOrnstalk borer. This in
sect, about an inch long when full
grown, has done Il great deal Of dam
age and it has been found IN num-
Der of instances that infestation from
this insect amounts to so and some
times so per cent of the number OF
cornstalks in the field. investigation
shows that this time Of the year j.
the most effective in which to tai <
steps toward eradicating this dam =
ing insect. .
The cornstalk borer wint = as
larva or worm in the stubb' the
spring it changes to the puL stage
and about ten days later becomes q
moth. At this time it deposits eggs
on the stalks which are five or six
inches in height. The eggs hatch and
the insects feed on the leaves, espe-
cially those in the bud.
AS the insect grows lager, it tun-
nels down in the stalk and feeds or
the nourishment contained therein;
this wcakcns the stalk and, as can be
seen after wind, the stalk blows
down easily. When the Insect becomes
full grown it changes back again to
the pupa stage and goes through the
same evolution. In autumn the borers
congregatc at the base and materially
weaken the life of the stalk. Winter
follows and they hibernate in the
Stubble.
The remedy, which can be admin
istered most effectively at this time Of
year, consists. in the thoroughly .plow-
ing out the stubble, gathering it to-
gether and then burning il. This
method is certain to destroy. Another
method is cutting the stalk and so
exposing the borer TO be destroyed by
the weather. This latter method, how
ever. should not be used when the
other is possible, as the complete
eradication of the borer is a matter
of conjecture.
The farmers must do something"
the bOrer is permitted to go on and
do its work there will soon come a
season when there will be compare
lively no corn, and what corn there is
will be dwarfed. / urge the farmers
to examine their fields for the pur-
pose OF discovering this insect. 1t is
IN animal about an inch long and its
color is dirty white. l trust also that
the farmers will write TO our depart
mcnt in Columbia and ask for fur
ther information. In severe cases |
hope that either Mr.. Boyer or myself
will be able to visit the place and rem
der personal assistance"
Since August, 1912. when Mr.. Lug
inbill began his duties in South Caro-
lima, the work and aims of this de-
partm"nt have been growing, and
what was next to impossible a few
months ago with only one man to
attend to three states is at presen,
assuming a definite shape with the
aid Of a man who can devote his en-
tire time to field work. Mr.. Lu2inbiN
some time ago had insectary built
in the northeast corner of the univer-
sty grounds. Gradually he has in
creased the number OF specimens and
the inSectary now has its own yard,
and on Il flag pole attached to the
roof Of the small house there is Il
nitcd States flag.