Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-07-01
INSECTS ATTACKING THE CORN
CRnp

CROP
a large number of insects attack
our corn crop and reduce it. yield
materially each year. Many of our
land owners are unfamiliar with the
nature and character of these pests.
Possibly they do not realize the
great extent of the damage done by
insects. In any event, under exist
ing conditions it has now becG72a es-
sential to the welfare of our agricul-
ture that we give closer attention
to the conservation of our crops aft
er we have planted them. 1t is a
waste of money and energy to eS-
tablish a beautiful field of corn and
then let insects come Glong and de-
stroy it, especially if it is possible
to minimize or control their depre-
cations through simple and practical
means at the command of every LAND
owner. The Importance of this sub
jects is such, therefore, as to justify
the presentation at this time of
brief outline. of the history of some
of the more important insects at
lacking corn, with suggestions as to
tho best methods of combating the
damage they inflict on this crop as
they are understood and practiced to-
day.
The animal reduction in the yield
of corn as a result of insect damage
is very great, probably not less than
is not uncommon to find practically
every ear attacked by the corn worm
with a consequent destruction of 5
to so per cent of the grains on in
Gividual ears Both the bill bug and
the root borer often prove destruc-
tive and, during moist seasons, it is
not uncommon to find marked dam
age as a result of plant lice. In
addition to the direct damage result
ing from the natural feeding Of the
insects there is an indirect loss due
to the fact that corn diseases are
eased stalks to healthy plants.
Corn Worm.-The corn worm, va
I iuusly known as bill" worm or to
ma ITO" worm. depending upon the
crop attacked, is undoubtedly the
most destructive of the insects at
lacking corn. The mature moth (dull
yellow in color and about one and
one-half inches from tip to tip CT
the wingS) energies from the ground
in the early spring The eggs are
laid on early tomatoes, peas or corn
and the caterpillars soon make their
appearance. In the south there are
probably five or six broods during
the season. After the early toma-
toes, the corn and cotton are at
tackled in succession. The corn ear
worm attains length OF about two
inches and is marked by prominent
black stripes down the sides,
: Fall blowing is recommended as
the chief means of destroying the
caterpillars in the ground. In add
ton the crop rotation should be, ar
cotton will not follow each other:
Often it is advisable to plant a trap"
patch of early corn in the tomato
patch or cotton field. When the
corn plants are attacked the corn is
cut and fed in the green state.
Corn Bill Bug--1he bill bug SO
named because of it's pronounced
-'snout'' occurs commonly throughout
South Georgia. Usually the beetles
are common in sod and it is when
corn. is planted on new breaking that
;;le. greatest damage results.
Fall blowing tends to reduce the
.,snf@ge and the adoption OF a crop
> rotation in which some crop other
4:su corn follows the sod will prove
lnosj satisfactory. Usually the pc
rod of damage in the spring is short
ana merely delaying the replanting
of the fails" will overcome the trou-
bic. S
Corn Root Borer. The adult root
worm (bud worm. drill worn) is a
greenish. beetle. with twelve black
rather long ''feelers." The beetle Is
about half an inch in length. The
eggs are laid at the base Of the corn
plant and the larvae (white worms)
penetrate and riddle the base OF the
stem. When the young corn plant is
attacked the new leaves as they I'm
fold are often Friddled with holes,
hence the name bud worm" Usual
ly the trouble is most pronounced on
wet land and on newly broken sod.
Fall blowing and crop rotation will
greatly reduce the damage from this
source. Some crop other than corn
should follow sod Buckwheat, wheat
oats, rye, cowpeas and velvet beans
J may be introduced into the rotation
with wood results.
Wire Worm-The adult form of the
wire worm is the "snap" beetle. q.