88 



Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, N. Y. 



lands. It has not yet occurred in sufficient numbers to be injurious ; 

 only about five per cent, of the wire worms we have examined 

 belonged to this species. 



Its life-history. — Our specimens of the wireworms ranged in 

 length from Y mm. to 25 mm. They are of a dark, waxy-yellow 

 color; their form and characteristic features are well shown in 

 figures 22 and 23 (a detailed description is given in Bulletin 33, p. 

 261). What little data we have indicates that the duration of the 

 wireworm period is at least three years. 



23. — The wireworm of Asaphes decoloi-atus. enlarged three and three-fourths diaixeters 



(after Forbes). 



Unlike the wheat wireworm, this wireworm matures in May. 

 The change to a pupa takes place in little earthen cells in the soil. 

 We have not seen the pupa; this stage lasts about three weeks. 

 Most of the beetles emerged In our cages in June. In Professor 

 Forbes' experiments in Illinois they emerged as early as May 25th. 



f The beetle varies from 9 mm. to 15 mm- 



in length, and is of a shining black- 

 ish color with 



brown legs. Its 



char a c teristic 



features are well 



shown in figure 



24. All t h e 



23.— Caudal segment of the wire- beetles emerge 



worm of Asaphes decoloratus, „ /» n i "^ 



1 1 much enlarged (after Forbes). bCIOre tall, bllt 



of the further life of this insect we know 

 nothing. 



3. Melanotics comimmis^ Gyll. 

 This species of wireworm is very com- 24.- Asaphes decoloratus, the 



, . Ill . „ . adult, enlarged four and one-flfth 



mon m cultivated lands, especially in corn diameters (after Forbes). 



