oaerace 
6 FARMERS’ BULLETIN 733. 
as exposed they are again hidden in the loosened soil. Even chickens 
or turkeys are not sufliciently alert to catch many. 
TRAPPING ADULT BEETLES. 
Trapping the beetles at night by means of strong lights above open 
vessels containing water or kerosene would in no way prove practical, 
especially on a large scale. 
POISONING. 
Killing the wireworms by placing poisoned baits in the soil around 
the hills of corn is not practical, nor will the treating of seeds with 
poisons or repellents assist in protecting the plants from wireworm 
attacks. Turning under wood ashes, as a remedy against wireworms, 
has proved to be of no avail. 
EFFECTIVE CONTROL AND REMEDIAL MEASURES. 
The following control measures are formulated from the study 
of the habits of the insect, and are based on results of such measures 
carried on over a period of two years. It must be remembered that 
as this species has been under investigation for only three years, the 
following remedial measures are subject to more or less modification. 
HASTENING EARLY PLANT GROWTH. 
The most important factor in reducing injury by this wireworm 
is the employment of methods which hasten early plant growth in 
the spring, the object of stimulating growth being to enable the 
plants the better to withstand the attacks of the wireworms. In the 
case of corn this consists of early planting—at least by April 20 for 
southeastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas—followed by fre- 
quent cultivation until the middle of June. 
CROP ROTATION. 
Any system of crop rotation after harvesting the corn may be 
carried out, and a winter cover crop such as wheat or rye is advised. 
Pasturing this during winter months and turning it under in the 
spring is very beneficial, since humus is thus added and the sandy 
soil is thereby stiffened. An infested field should not be planted to 
corn two years in succession. 
If a catch crop of red clover can be obtained it is an excellent 
one to come in the rotation for two or three years. Such com- 
binations as wheat and clover are to be recommended for south- 
eastern Missouri, as they not only afford two crops a year from the 
