INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CORN, 



249 



wherever they happen to be, usually, however, having previously entered 

 the ground to a somewhat greater depth for this purpose. 



Next spring they become revived and feed again upon the roots 

 of the clover, grass and allied plants, continuing thus to feed and 

 gradually growing during this second summer. At the approach of cold 

 weather again they likewise libernate under the ground near the plants, 

 upon the roots of which" they have been feeding. The next spring, at 

 the approach of warm weather, they again become active and feed as 

 before until July. By this time the larvae have become full grown. They 

 are generally about three-fourths of an inch in length, of a pale, waxy, 

 yellowish brown color, cylindrical in shape, being practically of the same 

 diameter from end to end, and tapering or rounding bluntly at the two 

 extremities. They are distinctly ringed, and are unusually hard, so 

 much so that when taken in the hand their bodies do not seem to give, 

 and if stepped upon on an ordinary plowed field, will be pushed into the 

 soil instead of crushed. This hard character of the body, together with 

 the shape, has given to them the well known name of wireworms. Their 



Fig. 10. — Larvae of the Wheat Wireworm. Agriotes 7nancus, enlargred five di- 

 ameters. 



bodies are thinly clothed with a few hairs, which, however, are not 

 ordinarily observed by the agriculturist. An excellent idea of the general 

 shape and appearance of these wireworms will be had by observing 

 figure 10, which represents a dorsal and a lateral view of one of these 

 larvae, magnified five diameters. 



This particular species can be readily distinguished from the other 

 common wireworms by observing the last segment of the body, which is 

 smooth and conical in shape, i.nd has two dark colored pits upon its dorsal 

 surface, as can be seen by referring to the figure just described. The 

 wireworms have three pairs of small joined legs, one pair on each of the 

 three first segments following the head, but the rest of the body is devoid 

 of the fleshy prolegs, which are so commonly seen in ordinary caterpillars 

 with which the farmer is so familiar. 



