While Grubs 



Wireworms 



Parasitic and predacious insects, while they destroy many of the 

 grubs, and beetles as well, are of less importance seemingly than the bird 

 and mammal enemies of this pest. In the Farmers' Bulletin mentioned,* 

 Mr. Davis names two wasps, " Tiphia inornata Say., " and " Elis sexcincta 

 Fab.," and a parasitic fly, " Pyrgota undata." The first two destroy 

 the grubs and the last preys upon the beetles. 



3. WIREWORMS 



(Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Plate I, Page 11) 

 Few boys and girls grow to manhood and womanhood on the farm 

 without becoming familiar with the "snapping-beetles, " "skip-jacks,'* 

 or "click-beetles, " as adult wireworms are called. (Figs. 16 and 17, Plate 

 I, Page 1 1, and Fig. 5, Page 52.) 



Many a dull moment has been en- 

 livened by the acrobatic performances of 

 these trim, slender bodied beetles which 

 drop as if dead, when touched. With 

 their legs closely folded against their 

 bodies they feign death until they think 

 all danger is past, when they are off for 

 cover as fast as they can travel. If they 

 happen to fall on their backs they will 

 spring into the air several inches, turn 

 over, land on their feet, and are off at 

 a run. This springing is accompanied 

 by a sharp snap or click, therefore the 

 names "snapping-beetles" and "click- 

 beetles. " 



There are over 500 species of these 

 insects found in the United States. 

 The larvae of many of these live in the 

 decaying wood of stumps and fallen trees. 

 Many others are denizens of the soil. 

 Among the latter are the injurious forms. 

 These are most apt to be found in pasture 

 and meadow lands or wherever grass is 

 allowed to grow about the fields. A few 

 species are known to be predacious, feed- 

 ing upon other insects and often upon their own kind. 



Fig. 5. Adult Snapping-beetle, Alans 



loculatus. The larvae of this beetle 



feed upon decaying wood. 



NATURE OF INJURY 



During the early part of the season, especially about the time the 

 beets are being blocked and thinned, here and there a beet will be found 

 which is apparently dying. The leaves will be wilted, many times the 

 outer ones being dead and dry. When such beets are pulled they will be 

 be found gnawed off an inch or two below the surface of the ground. 

 The end of the beet as it comes from the soil will usually be dark, almost 



*J. J. Davis, "Common White Grubs." Farmers" Bulletin No. 543. U. S. Department of Agriculture 



52 



