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IX. Some Observations on an Insect that destroys the Wheat, sup- 

 posed to he the Wireicorm. By Thomas Walfo^d, Esq. F,A.S. 

 %■ L*S. With an additional Note, by Thomas Marsham, Esq. 

 Treas. L. S. 



Read April 21, 1807. 



Ihe insect which is the subject of the following memoir has 

 never, I believe, been noticed or described b}^ any entomologist 

 or agriculturist; its depredations are the annual topic of con- 

 versation with the latter, yet few know what insect it is that 

 destroys the wheat in the months of October and November, 

 under the denomination of theWireworm. Many suppose it to be 

 a Scolopendra, others a species of lulus, and some the larva of a 

 Tipida, or of the Scarabceus Melolontha of Linnaeus. I supposed 

 it to be one of the above, till 1 found two insects in the very act 

 of destroying the wheat, as represented in the annexed figure 

 (Tab. XVIII. fig. 3. cr.). These I believe to be the insects common- 

 ly, although very improperly, called the Wireworms in Essex and 

 Suffolk : they appear to me larva of one of the coleopterous 

 tribe; but to what genus they belong can at present only be 

 conjectured. The projecting jaws somewhat resemble those of 

 a Lucanus. The two jointed bristles, and the cylindrical tail, 

 give it an affinity to Staphylinus ; but the larva of that insect is 

 supposed to be carnivorous, and not graminivorous. I fear, 

 therefore, that the genus of this insect cannot be determined 

 till it be traced to its perfect state. 



I shall 



