PREFACE. 



The present bulletin is intended as a preliminary report of the 

 investigations which have been carried on with the sugar-beet wire- 

 worm (Limonius califomicus Mannh.) since 1909. The life-history 

 work has not been completed; in fact it was not until the spring of 

 1912 that it could be started on a scale which gave any promise of 

 ultimate success. As tests of many of the control measures were 

 finished during the latter part of 1912, and as it will be several years 

 before a complete study can be finished, it has been decided to 

 publish a report at this time giving all the observations and experi- 

 ments which have been carried on thus far. 



During the coming years, in addition to the completion of the 

 life-history studies, work will be carried on with other control 

 measures. The relation of the birds of the sugar-beet fields to the 

 wireworms will also be investigated, as will the bacterial and fungous 

 diseases which have been observed to affect this species. 



The author wishes to acknowledge his indebtedness to Dr. F. H. 

 Chittenden and Mr. H. M. Russell for assistance and suggestions 

 throughout the work. Mr. Russell began the study of Limonius 

 califomicus in 1900. The cooperative work of Mr. R. S. Vaile, of 

 the Ventura County horticultural commission, and Prof. H. S. 

 Fawcett, of the University of California, is also deserving of grateful 

 acknowledgment. 



J. E. G. 



