The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-01-11
LARGER CORN srAIIK-BoRER
 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MUCH WIND DAMAGE

l . $ a5 . t
 Washington, Jan. s.-In many South ern corn fields, a heavy wind late in the season before corn is zaatured does great damage by breaking the plants off at the surface of the ground. Examination of the broken stems will, inmost cases. show that they have been greatly weakened by the burrows of a Iarva or caterpfller known as ~tF1e larger corn stalk borer." In addition this caterpillar does it's damage largely within the stem of the plant and is 90 concealed that in most cases it's presence passes unnoticed.
 early part of the season in the "throa,t.' of the young corn and dam age the tender growing tip in a way that prevents the plant from beeom- ing a normal productive specimen. 1 This damage is commonly knowr1 in many parts of the South as bud worm injury. and though there are several other insects which cause sim l liar mutila:tion of the 1eaf the Hanger corn stalk-borer'' is worst offender. The effect of it's work on the leaves of the young corn plants is similar to ] that resulting from attacks by the corn bdllb1gs and shows in the fa- miliar rows of small holes across the blades of the plant.
 The lava which does the damage, when fully grown is a robust, dirty l white caterpillar one inch in length, thickly covered with round or irregu- lar dark spots each of which bears 1 a short, dark bristIe. When the ca terpillar is small. these markings are I almost continuots, giving the whole l insect g. dark color and hairy appear 1 ance.
 Tn the second generation. this over l wintering caterpillar gradually loses 
 mott remains unspotted and light vel l law in color, except for the head and l the sthoracic plate, which retain the ] brownish yellow of the earlier stages. 1 These larvae are plump and active in l the fall, but flabby and sluggish af- | ter fasting throughout the winter. i The larvae pass the winter in the ex- I trene lower tip of the corn roots. l Two geerations a year appear to be I the rule, although it is possible that in the far south, on sugar cane a l partial third generation may occur.
 The insect seems originally to have been an enemy of sugar cane, and later transferred it's attention to corn. The berer also has been reported as I feeding on sorghum, Johnson grass, guinea corn, and graGna grass. The injury to these four plants is never l severe, but they nuts be considered l and examination made of them to de-
 
 when methods of control are planned
 Prevention Measures.
 Rotation is one Of the best general preventives of injury from insects af- fectfng field crops. Experience has shown that where corn has followed itself upon the same field for two or l more years there has been Q much greater loss from the borer than 1 where an annual change Of crop has
 
 Eticeab1e where stalks .or stubble from l the previous year have been allow &a 1 to remain undisturbed throughout the l winter. The moths, upon energenee l in the spring, finding themselves sur rounded sby the young corn, commence I egg IaSingS* att onee, and escape tn e l dangers encountered in searching for l another field of corn. A forced jour 1 ney in search of young corn results in many of the females being eatenst by birds or being destroyed because of rain, cold, or failure to find the object i of their quest. A few moths will sal ways succeed in their search, butSthe successful proportion will be greatly I decreased by persiEtent. crop rotation.
 Another. remedy. probably the best 1 for this insect. is the thorough de struction, some time before the period of emergence of the moths in the 1 spring, of all the. stalks and stlbble remaining in the field from the ore l eeding crop. If all this trash can be 1 disposed of before the. opening of spring, the numbers of the pest must be greatly diminished if not almost exteminated, for the only form : in | which the insect passes the winter is l tfiat of the caterpillar and the only I known location is in the lower tips of I the corn root, snugIy hidden. Some I few may, however, be found to sur vive in the roots of the larger grasses mentioned above, and care should be