254 Repokt of Farmeks' Institutes 



white grub 



White grub injury has been vei*y serious in portions of southern 

 Rensselaer and northern Columbia counties at least. These in- 

 sects have a three-year life cycle, the most serious damage being 

 inflicted the season after the beetles are most abundant, conse- 

 quently the probabilities of damage in on6 year may be approxi- 

 mated somewhat by the amount of beetle injury to the leaves 

 of hickory, ash, butternut, black walnut, elm and birch the 

 preceding season. The subsequent infestation by white grubs is 

 most likely to develop in the more vigorous sod near injured trees, 

 for the simple reason that the beetles are very apt to seek the 

 nearest available grassy shelter after feeding during the night. 

 Infestation can also be determined in a general way at least, by 

 examining grass sod either in the fall or spring, and if small, 

 white gTubs a quarter of an inch in length or thereabouts are 

 numerous, material damage may be expected the following 

 summer. 



Susceptible hoed crops such as com, potatoes and strawberries 

 should not be planted upon land badly infested by partly grown 

 grubs. It is safer to sow with any of the small grains, especially 

 rye, since this greatly increases the chance of a portion of the 

 crop escaping damage. The nearly full grown grubs novv^ in the 

 soil under badly infested grass have almost completed their feed- 

 ing; and, if planting with susceptible crops such as com or pota- 

 toes is delayed till the latter part of May or early in June, there 

 will be decidedly less chance of serious injury resulting. Farmers 

 in areas subject to white grub outbreaks should be very careful 

 about planting upon recently turned sod, especially at the three- 

 year intervals when there are good probabilities of serious injury. 



