6s0 Geasses and Leguminous Ckops in New York 



Fig. fisn. The Clover 

 Root-borer Beetle. 



(Redrawn after Webster) 



will wither and die. Eveu under the most 

 favorable conditions the growth is badly 

 stunted and the quantity of seed produced 

 is greatly decreased. 



Control. Under the system of clover 

 growing practiced in New York little can 

 be done to prevent injury by the root- 

 borer. Something may be gained, how- 

 ever, by adopting a short rotation, by 

 keeping the soil in good tilth, by main- 

 taining a high state of fertility, and by 

 underdraining wherever necessary. 



THE CLOVER LEAF-WEEVIL, 



Ilypera punctata Fabricius 



While capable of doing serious injury under favorable condi- 

 tions the clover leaf-weevil does not as a rule cause as much loss 

 as the clover root-ljorer. This beetle is a native of Europe and 

 was apparently introduced into North America about the middle 

 of the nineteenth century, but did not attract attention by its 

 injuries to clover until the early eighties when it was reported 

 as destructive in Yates County, N. Y. It is now widely dis- 

 tributed throughout the state and every year causes more or less 

 loss, although serious outbreaks are usually local in extent and 

 rarely ooiitinue f roin year to year in the same locality. 



The insect passes the winter in the larval condition, most 

 of the larvae being in the earlier stages. With the advent of 

 warm weather in the spring these grubs begin feeding on the 

 clover leaves and comjjlete their growth by about the middle of 

 June. The full-grown larva is one-third to one-half inch in length, 

 green in color with a light stripe down the middle of the back; 

 the head is l)rownish. The grubs feed mostly at night and during 

 the day can be found curled up under the rubbish around the 

 base of the plant. The younger grubs eat small holes through 

 the leaves and the older ones devour larger areas, beginning at 

 the edge of the leaf. When full-gTown, the grubs spin curious 

 open-work coooons of yellowish to brownish silk within which, 



