CLOVER INSECTS 

 C. R. Ckosby 



Extension Assistant in Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y. 



AND 



M. D. Leonard 



Extension Assistant in Entomology, Cornell University Ithaca, X. Y. 



While over a hundred species of insects attack the clover plant, 

 the greater part of the injury is caused by the seven treated in 

 this paper. Xo part of the plant is exempt from attack: the 

 roots are riddled by the burrows of the root-borer ; the stem-borer 

 tunnels the stems ; the leaves are devoured by several weevils and 

 caterpillars; plant-lice suck the juices from the plant above ground 

 and mealy bugs cause a similar injury to the roots; a maggot 

 destroys the ovary of the unopened flower and a grub devours the 

 kernel of the seed ; and even clover hay is often injured to a 

 considerable extent by the clover hay-worm. While insect injury 

 to clover does not often attract the grower's attention it is none 

 the less real and constant. If it were posisible to exclude the 

 injurious species from our clover fields not only would the crop 

 of hay and seed be greatly increased but it would also be possible 

 to keep the fields in clover for several successive years. The root- 

 borer has made the clover plant for all practical purposes a 

 biennial instead of a pereimial. Many clover insects also attack 

 alfalfa, vetch, peas, and other plants of the same family. 



THE CLOVER ROOT-BORER 



Hylastinus ohscurus Mai'sliam 



Undoubtedly the most serious insect enemy of clover in New 

 York State is this small brownish-black beetle which in both the 

 larval and adult stages burrows in the roots of the plant. The 

 insect is a native of Europe where it has been known as a clover 

 pest for over a century. It was probably introduced into New 



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