Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-06-25
A New Corn Pest.
THE EUROPEAN CORN STALK BoRER Is
EXPECTED.

And still they comel The European
corn-stalk borer is likely to reach Maine
this year from Massachusetts, where q
serious outbreak occurred in 1917. Both
large and small gardens are threatened
and all cultivators should be on the
lookout for this pest. Mail suspicious
looking worms or bugs working In corn
and other plants to the Maine Agricul.
tural Experiment Station to be identified
and ask for further information concern.
ing the insect sent.
The new pest is causing alarm and will
be investigated this year In several New
England states. Introduced from Europe
about 10 years ago this corn.stalk borel
has become serious menace In Mas.
sachusetts, In some cases whole crops
being destroyed before the corn mstured,
and Il may prove matter of deep con.
Germ for Maine planters whose two mil.
lion dollar corn crop is threatened. The
injury is caused by the first brood OF
caterpillars which feed during June and
July after which they transform into
yellowish moths early in August. Up to
the first of August this insect feeds In
side the stalk, absorbing so much food
that the corn plant becomes stunted and
fails to mature the ear. The moth
which issues in August lays second
batch of eggs preferably in corn and the
caterpillars arising from them feed dur.
ing the fall and over winter In the stubble.
In the spring these caterpillars turn into
moths which lay eggs In the new corn.
This habit of living inside the corn stalk
entirely preoludes the possibility of kill
ing them with insecticides and the only
method thus far suggested Is that of
burning the stubble in winter and pull.
ing up infested stalks as they appear In
summer and feeding them out to
poultry or stock. It is also pest Of
other vegetables such as potatoes,
tomatoes, etc., and hence, visitation Of
this insect In the garden is liable to be
attended with disaster. It's presence, In
any case, should be reported at once.
Previous to this year the European
corn-stalk borer has not been discovered
In. Maine although Extension Entomol-
ogist C. b. Batchelder has examined
corn stubble in the southern counties
for evidence OF the pest. Plenty Of
evidence is always at hand of the work
of the native corn.stalk borer but It's
depredations are mild as compared with
the introduced species. Many insects
have been identified in former years at
the Maine Agricultural Experiment Sta
ton and cultivators are urged to make
more frequent use of this institution at
this time OF tense agricultural interest.
Specimens received in this way are al.
ways welcome az means of keeping In
touch with some isolated insect situa.
tions In the state that might otherwise
pass unobserved by field workers who
are scouting for insect pests.
DIRECTIONS FOR MAILING SPECIMENS.
Inquiries about insects, Injurious or
otherwise, should, whenever possible,
be accompanied by specimens of the In.
jury as we'll a. the culprit himself. Suoh
specimens whenever dead should be
saturated with alcohol and packed
tightly In cotton or tissue paper II
swamp or sphsgnum moss is not avail
able. The package should include with
living grubs, caterpillars or maggots, q
supply of their natural food. Air holes
are never needed for the journey, no
matter how tight the boz is, since In
scots are seldom bothered by lack Of air.
1t is very important that accompanying
the insects there should be sent informa-
tiou describing the amount of damage It
has done in the locality, where the in
sect was found, whether on leaves,
buds, stem or roots) how long 1t has
already been done about It, II anything.
Data concerning the name of the insect,
his habits, what to do for him and other
information will be forwarded to the
sender as soon az determination Of the
species Ii made.-Chas. D. Woods. d.
rector.