INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 233 



somewhat elliptical, white and exceedingly minute. The larvae 

 resemble the ordinary wireworms, are subcylindrical, shiny yellowish- 

 brown with head and ventral surface darker brown. The length 

 averages about f inch and the diameter 3-25 inch. The pupa' 

 resemble very much the adults in 

 and size, but are much lighter in 

 color until nearly mature. 



Life History.— The eggs are 

 laid in the spring. They are de- 

 posited in the damp soil within 

 one and one half inches of the 

 surface. From twenty-five to 

 sixty are laid by a single female. 

 They hatch in from fifteen to 

 thirty-three days and the larvae 

 soon begin to feed, continuing to 

 do so throughout their long life 

 of about three years. When 



vpnrl^ in T->nnntp n <smnll rwol /-pll Fi & 222 - — Adults of the sugar-beet wire- 



1(<1U\ TO pupaie a small OVai CeiJ W orm, Limonius caUfornicus Mann. Natural 



is constructed USUally within six size. Specimens taken at Compton by J. E. 



, _ , £ „ Graf. (Original) 



inches ot the surface ot the 



ground. The pupal stage requires from twenty-five to thirty-two 

 days, or about one month. A complete life cycle requires four years. 

 The adults feed to some extent upon old beet tops and the roots of 

 beets and other plants, but do little or no damage, while the wire- 

 worms are very serious pests. 



Nature of Work.— The larvae feed upon the roots of the young 

 plants, cutting off the tap-roots and often working up the stems. 

 They also attack the sprouting seed of beans and destroy the plants 

 after they come up. The sugar-beet wireworm is considered the 

 worst beet and bean pest in the State. 



Distribution. — This species is most abundant in the coast belt from 

 Mendocino County to the southern part of the State. It prefers 

 sandy river bottom land. 



Food Plants. — Graf records the following food plants: alfalfa. 

 wild aster, beets (sugar and garden), lima beans, chrysanthemum, corn, 

 dock, Johnson grass, mustard, nettle, pigweed and potato. 



Control. — Control measures have not yet been fully worked out, 

 but Graf has laid down some important methods which will serve to 

 materially lessen the attacks. They are: (1) plowing in the fall of 

 the year to destroy pupa? in the dry soil; (2) planting early to give 

 the beets a good start before the wireworms begin extensive feeding; 

 (3) clean culture to eliminate shelter for the adults and to expose 

 them to natural enemies and to compel them to seek shelter elsewhere. 



BUPRESTID^E (Family) 



METALLIC WOOD-BORERS OR BUPRESTIDS 



The buprestids greatly resemble the click beetles (Elaterida >, but 

 are easily distinguished by their metallic iridescence, finely serrated 

 antennae, the rigid union of the first two abdominal segments on the 



