Strawb?:kkv and Greeniiousi*: Pests. 171 



ideal lurking place for tliein. Perhaps when we know more aljont 

 their lives and breeding hal)its, we can l)etter understand their 

 occurrence in strawberry patches in such astonishing numbers. In 

 Ohio the beetles have been destructive in the same fields for tliree 

 successive seasons. 



Remedial measures. — The evidence of those who have suffered 

 from the depredations of these ground-bettles is conclusive that 

 they are capable of ruining a whole strawberry crop in a few days. 

 Hence, some swift and inexpensive method of checking their ravages 

 is wanted. Unfortunately, from lack of experimental evidence, our 

 recommendations must be largely suggestive. 



If the mulch were raked off, one could doubtless entice many of 

 the beetles to hide during the day under boards, chips, etc., placed 

 near the plants, where they might be readily collected by hand and 

 killed. It is reported that in Ohio the burning over of the patches 

 was not effective. Tliey probably can not be effectually reached 

 with a spray of poison, soap or oil. Keep tlie strawberry patch and 

 near-by fields as free as possible from ragweed, whose seeds are 

 favorite food for the beetles ; this would doubtless materially help 

 in the warfare. It is doubtful if any substance could be applied to 

 the soil in sufficient quantities to kill tlie beetles and not injure the 

 vines. The beetles are attracted to liglits in large numbers, espe- 

 cially to electric or other brilliant lights. It is thus possible that a 

 bright oil light from a good lantern fastened on a brick in a pan set 

 on top of a post might attract the beetles in paying quantities ; fill 

 the pan about two-thirds full of water and pour a liberal film of 

 kerosene oil over the water to kill the beetles as they get into the 

 water. We believe this trap-lantern is worthy of a trial by afflicted 

 strawberry growers, but it may work in theory only. Possibly the 

 beetles would eat poisoned wheat bran placed under boards in the 

 evening, as Webster suggests. 



In England Miss Ormerod has shown (Kept, for 1897, p. 113) 

 that even Avhen feeding on strawberries the beetles do not lose their 

 carnivorous appetites, and may be attracted by meat. Some English 

 strawberry growers report that they " almost entirely destroyed the 

 beetle pest" by sinking into the ground to the level of the surface a 

 lot of cheap basins or dishes and then keeping these traps baited 



