INSECTS INJURIOUS TO AGRICULTURE. 199 



autumn, the worms living on the roots and sprouts of 

 herbaceous plants, and on the approach of winter descend- 

 ing below the reach of frost. 



KEMEDIES. Before planting, the seed-corn should be soaked in 

 copperas- water; while late in autumn corn-laud should be ploughed 

 deep so as to turn up the half-grown worms, and expose them to winter 

 colds and insectivorous birds. When the worms have begun their 

 attacks, search should be made for them by digging up the soil 

 around the plant. They may also be trapped in, holes made by a 

 stake in corn-hills, or near cabbage-plants, etc. According to Riley 

 they may be destroyed by the wholesale by dropping between the 

 rows of the crop to be protected, at nightfall, balls or masses of 

 fresh-cut grass, clover, or turnip-leaves which have been sprinkled 

 with the Paris-green or London-purple solution. 



Wire-worms. Eating the roots of corn, wheat, grass, 

 etc., hard, cylindrical, reddish worms, tapering alike towards 

 each end of the body, and changing into snapping beetles. 

 (See family Elaterida, p. 109.) 



REMEDIES. They may be caught by placing slices of potato, 

 turnip, or apple in the beds, and examining the under sides every 

 morning. 



FIG. 342. Wire- 

 worm. 



FIG. 243. Corn maggot, a, larva; 

 b, pupa-case. After Riley. 



The Corn-maggot (Antliomyia zece Riley). Gnawing seed- 

 corn after it is planted, a maggot which sometimes abounds 

 so as to nearly ruin entire corn-fields. 



