Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1929-09-12
Three Corn Borer Stations
Maintained on Highway
Near Putnam
Bulletin Gives History and Nature OF
Infection

Federal and state quarantine agents
still maintain at three points on the
state highway in the vicinity Of Put
nam their stations past which it is
not permitted to transport specified
varieties of flowers or garden vege-
tables. Between Putnam and South
Woodstock is the location of one of
these stations, while another Is be-
tween Putnam and Pomfret near the
Gary School house, and a third on the
state highway between Danielson and
Brooklyn. This quarantine is main
tanned TO guard against the spread
westward into the rest Of Connecticut
of the European corn borer. Infesta-
tons of the borer have been found in
Thompson. Putnam, killingly, and all
the rest Of the towns in Connecticut
which lie along the Rhode Island bor-
der, Practically every town in New
London county Is under quarantine.
and the infected region continues
along the sound as far as Clinton.
Many farmers in this section find
the quarantine a decided inconven-
fence, since part of this end of the
county, including the towns of Put
nam. Thompson and Killingly, are in
the quarantine belt. while the towns
adjacent on the west, Woodstock, Pom
fret, and Brooklyn are outside the line.
Injury to Crops
The European corn borer. Pyrausta
nubilalis Hubn.. has u dirty white
larva an inch or less in length marked
with scattered black dots. II tunnels
all through the stalks and ears. II
first injured corn, especially sweet
corn, and may cause such economic
damage that the crop cannot be grown
with profit. When heavily infested,
the stalks soon break down. After
the corn has become thoroughly in
Tested, the borers may enter celery,
rhubarb, bean, beet, dahlia, gladiolus,
ehrysanthemum, aster, zinnia, and
other cultivated herbaceous plants and
many Of the larger weeds. In New
England there is danger that the Dor.
ers Of the two-brooded area may be
transported in the stalks of vegetables
and certain kinds of cut flowers. and
therefore these materials are inelud
ed in the quarantine regulations.
RECOMMENDATION
During the season Of 1923, federal
scouts found the European corn Dor.
er present in thirty-four towns in
Conneeticut-all in the eastern and
southeastern portion except Sufiield
which is in the northern central .por-
ton of the state.
Though the percentage Of infested
stalks was not large in any corn field
in 1928. the intensity of the infesta-
ton is greatest in Stonington and viii
increase throughout the state. II not
held in check by the destruction Of
corn stalks and stubble, it will soon
cause serious losses. Over one half OF
Rhode Island in 1928. the corn borei
caused a commercial loss in the corr
crop and the same viii soon be true
in the Eastern Connecticut unless tn,
pest can be held in check.
Discovery and Spread
The European corn borer was first
discovered in the United States in
Eastern Massachusetts, near Boston
in 1917, and this infestation has now
spread into Maine, New Hampshire
Rhode Island and Connecticut. Two
in this area.
In 1919, there was discovered an in.
festation just west of Albany, n. Y.
on south of Buffalo, n. y. and third
at Girard. Pa. near Lake Erie.
In 1920. two infestations were found
in Ontario. Can, one just across the
Niagara River from western New
York. and the other farther westward
along the shore of Lake Erie with its
center near st. Thomas. These in
festations in New York and westward
have only one generation each year.
In 1921, the insect was found in
Ohio along the south shore Of Lake
Erie. In 1923. small infestations were
found in Connecticut and Brooklyn,
N.
BY 1928. the generation area
included nearly all Of Ohio, the entire
state Of Michigan, a portion Of In
diana, northern and western Pennsyl-
vania, New York. a portion of Yer.
mont, western Massachusetts, a few
towns in New Jersey, Staten Island
the western end Of Long Island, and
the town Of SufIield, Conn. which
is an apparent spread Of this infesta-
ton eastward through western Massa-
chusetts. In eastern Connecticut there
are two generations annually.
Methods of Control
For the past five years, the stalks,
stubble and weeds have been burned in
and around each separate infestation
in Connecticut at the expense Of the
state and federal governments, and
in many cases no borers were found
the next season. With the large num-
Der Of towns infested. appropriations
are inadequate to continue this sys-
TEN, and the grower must control the
pest in his cultural operations. AS
the borers pass the winter in corn
stalks, stubble and weeds, the follow
ing methods Of handling the infested
crop will greatly reduce the injury
next season:
1. Corn stalks should be cut lust