246 journal of economic entomology [vol. 12 



Recommendations for Control of Wingless May Beetles 



1. In Gardens 



The use of a barrier is the only practical method of controlling these 

 beetles in a small garden. This should be made as described under 

 Lachnosterna farcta. In some cases where the beetles are known to 

 come into the garden from one direction a barrier on that side will be 

 sufficient with the aid of hand-picking at night. When the beetles 

 are gathered they should be saved for the chickens. If it is necessary 

 to buy lumber for the barrier, boards 1 by 4 inches and 20 feet long are 

 cheapest and would be satisfactory. Tin cans, with the bottoms 

 melted out, may be used to protect a few of the most valuable young 

 plants. They should be placed over the plants about sundown ai^d 

 removed in the morning. 



In large market gardens the seed beds should be protected by a 

 barrier. The plants which are already started in the field should be 

 sprayed or dusted with arsenicals. In case the beetles are very numer- 

 ous the poison bran mash should be used. If a heavj' migration from 

 outside should occur, a deep furrow should be made and bran mash 

 distributed on both sides of the furrow and among the plants nearest 

 the furrow. 



2. In Field Crops 



When the outbreak originates in the field and the beetles are very 

 numerous the infested area should be treated immediately with bran 

 mash. This bait should be broadcasted all over the infested part. 

 This can be done most easily by two men with a single horse and buggy 

 or light wagon. Also a small quantity of the poison bait should be 

 placed at each entrance hole or group of entrance holes at the edges of 

 the infested area. The latter method should also be used where the 

 beetles are scattered in small numbers throughout the field, for although 

 the beetles may not be numerous enough to destroy the stand, it is 

 important to get rid of them before they lay eggs. If the infested area 

 is given one thorough treatment with the poison bait it should be safe 

 to replant in case the stand has been destroyed. When the plants are 

 larger, for instance cotton plants about six inches high, the arsenical 

 should be applied directly to the plants. This could be done very 

 economically with a horse-drawn traction operated potato sprayer, and 

 would also give protection against such insects as Feltia spp., Prodenia 

 spp., and Loxostege similalis. 



W^here it is desired to protect a field from a heavy migration of 

 beetles, originating in an adjoining field, a furrow barrier should be 

 made. Bran mash should be distributed on both sides of the barrier 

 and among the plants near it. If the plants near the furrow are large 

 enough to be poisoned an arsenical should be applied to them. 



