62 M ISCI-.l.l.AXKOl'S NOTES OX l-.C () N () M 1 C WOKK 



AiiL'tist the small nu-tallic beetles are fdund ii\ing and laying eggs at 

 the base o\ buds. 



Control. The only practical method of control is to keep all 

 dead and dying limbs trimmed from the trees. Although the great- 

 est damage seems to be to the red oaks we have found the eggs and 

 larvae of this insect in cjther species, such as bur and white oaks. 

 The dead limbs on any oak, therefore, are open to suspicion and 

 shduld be pruned whenever seen and the cuttings burned. 



A detailed re])(>rt on this insect is being prepared f< ir ])ul)lica- 

 tion. 



Field Crop Insects." 



In <iur stud\- of held crop insects special attention has been 

 gi\en to the insects of corn, cloxer and wheat. The insect of corn 

 which is being studied is the Corn Ear Worm. ( )ur studies on this 

 insect ha\e just begun, but indications are that the entire life cycle 

 of the insect is not passed within the infested localitv and hence the 

 control measures usually recommended are not applicable to our 

 conditions in Minnesota. 



The Clover Seed Chalcis \\'iiich affects the seed has been 

 studied for a period of years and has now been completed. W't 

 have found many interesting things in the life history of the insect, 

 and are able to make definite recommendations for its control. The 

 infestation of cloxer seed varies from as high as 40^f in 1910 to as 

 low as 4^/r in 1912. The average amount of seed claimed by these 

 insects is probably at least 25^. It breeds freely in red clover, 

 both medium and mannnoth and in. alfalfa. It has been taken in 

 Crimson clo\er but apparently docs not breed in ^vhite clover and 

 alsike. 



Control. Cutting the hrst crop of cUner for hav while the 

 heads are green or ])ink: or pasturing the clover until June 15th or 

 20th ; or clip]:)ing it back in May, allowing in each case the second 

 crop to grow for seed, will j^revent loss from this insect. \'olunteer 

 clover and first year clover should be kei>t from blooming as this 

 would allow the insects to breed where the cutting or pasturing as 

 outlined star\es the ])est into submission. 



The Wheat Stem Maggot is the im])ortant insect of wheat l)eing 

 studied at the present time. A considerable amount of damage is 

 done to wheat, rye, l)arley, corn and l)luegrass everv vear b\- this 

 insect; often as high as 25% in parts of neighboring states. 



*Mr. Warr-Mi Williiinisun is cafrying on the experiments witli these insects. 



