88 



Agricultural Experiment Station, Ithaca, X. Y 



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

 only about five per cent, of the wireworms we have examined 

 belonged to this species. 



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

 length from 7 ram. 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. 



'^ 



W J/. jf/..Jj;^J^^ //i y 



22.— The wireworm of Asaphes decoloratus. enlarged three and three-fourths diarreters 



(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 2oth. 



The beetle varies from 9 mm. to 15 mm- 



in length, and is of a shining l)lack- 



ish color with 



brown legs. Its 



c h a r a c teristic 



features are well 



shown in figure 



24. All t h e 



23.— Caudal segment of the wh-e- bcetlcS emerge 

 worm of Asaplies decoloratus, , „ £ \^ \ l. 



much enlarged (after Forbes). ueiOre tall, DUt 



of the further life of this insect we know 

 nothing, 



3. Melanotus communis^ Gryll. 





tijg?' 



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



adult, enlarged four and one-fifth 



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



