INSECTS AFFECTING CLOVER. 



INJURING THE ROOT. 



The Clover Root-borer. 



Hylastes trifolii. 

 This insect was originally a native of Europe, 

 from whence it was introduced into America not 



very many years ago. The 

 adult is a small, brownish - 

 black, punctate beetle ( Fig. 

 125, d), not quite one-tenth 

 \j of an inch long. It deposits 

 eggs during spring in the 

 crown of the clover plant, 

 four or five eggs being laid on 

 each plant. Shortly after- 

 wards the larvae hatch and 

 burrow downward through 

 the larger roots (a, a), feeding 

 upon the inner substance, 

 and filling the galleries be- 

 hind them with their saw- 

 dust-like excrement. Late in 



Fig. 125. Clover Root-borer : </. smrnmer the larvpp beeome 

 infested plant; 6, larva; c, pu- SUmmei Lilt idl \ <L ueLOllie 

 pa; d, beetle: 6, c,d, magnified. fully grown (fy w h en they 



are one-eighth of an inch long, with a whitish body 

 and yellow head. They change to pupae (c) within 

 the tunneled roots (a, a), and shortly afterwards 



