580 REPOKT OF THE COilMISSlONEK OF AGKICUI.TUHE. 



was, Mr. Ratliff, who is a crop corresi)ondent of this Department, estimated the 

 damage to the ilu-ee fields at about $1,000. 



We have not been able to learn of any such depredations else^\■here, and Jlessrs. 

 A. W. Butler, of Brookville: Stephen Gardner, of Cottage Grove; S. S. Merrifield, 

 of Connersville; and D. E. Hoffman, of Winchester, all located in Wayne and ad- 

 jacent counties, have ^vl•itten us disclaiming all knowledge of any similar ravages. 



While we were on the fijound too late in the season to observe the working of 

 these worms or carefully study their movements, both the appearance of the af- 

 fected fields at that time and the information obtained were strongly indicative of 

 a slow, migratory habit, ^h: Kreet stated that he had several times observed the 

 worms collected "in deep holes in the earth, from which they appeared to be endeav- 

 oring to escx^pe. All of this is very suggestive of preventing the progress of the 

 worms by ditching, or even plowing a deep furrow across their course, and destroy- 

 ing them as they accumulate in the bottom, as with the Army Worm. 



We again visited the locality on October 30. The Kreet field had been plowed 

 in the mean time, and was now covered with a luxuriant growth of wheat. The 

 Thompson field remaine<l as we had left it in July, but neither there nor in other 

 meadows could we ihid any young Cut-worms of tliis species, although a few of 

 other species were observed. We dug up the earth to a depth of several inches in 

 places wliere it seemed most pi-obabie that tliey would occur, but found none. 



AVe observed a considerable number of carnivorous larvoe in the Thompson field, 

 and these, quite likely, aided in sustaining the check given the -svorms by the para- 

 sites of the spring brood.* 



THE GRAIN SPHEKOPIIORUS. 



(SjjhenopJiorus parmilus Gyll.) 



During the latter part of July of the present year the larvaB of this species were 

 observed burrowir.g in the bulbs of timothy, their method of work not differing 

 materially from what it was in wheat, as described in oiu- last year's report, except- 

 ing that the bulli, being much larger than a straw, enabled the larva to attain to 

 nearly or quite full grovrth before leaving it to pupate. Several larvae were often 

 found infesting a single stool. Pupso v/ere also found in the earth about these 

 stools. 



While examining the roots of timothy in meadows about Richmond, Wayne 

 County, Indiana, on October 80, we found an adult of Splienopliorus sculptilis IJhl. 

 in the midst of a mass of eaten bulbs, these last resembling in every particular those 

 which had been destroyed by S. parvulus. 



INSECTS AFFECTING WHITE CLOVER. 



THE FLAVESCENT CLOVER WEEVIL. 



(Sitones flavescens Allard.) 



Early in the month of October, 1885, the foliage of Wliite Clover {TinfoHum repens 

 L.) on the University grounds was found to be seriously injured by some insect dep- 

 redator, and a plot of Alsike (T. hyhridum) was likewise attacked, while Red Clover 

 {T. pratensifi) escaped with verjr little injury, even though growing up promis- 

 cuously among both of the former varieties. 



This injury to the leaves of clover was of two patterns, one consisting of a circu- 

 lar disk extracted from the center and the other a more or less hemispherical portion 

 taken from the margin, and, while there was never more than one circular space 

 eateii from the same leaf, there might be several of the marginal pattern, or the two 

 might be combined, thereby leaving only the leaf -stalk and bases of the mid-veins. 



Careful search failed to reveal any insect about the injured plants in sufficient 

 numbers to arouse suspicion, except a small, yellov,'ish-brown curcuho, Sitones fiar^es- 

 cens Allard, an imported species, injurious to clover in Europe, but not previously 

 known as such in America, although Dr. RHey had some years ago f directed atten- 



*One of these species of larvae was that of an Elater, probably i)rasf era (s dorsalis 

 Say. The larva9 of this genus are known to bo carnivorous, and we have observed 

 this Bpecies desti-oymg the larvae of Crambur, zeeUus Fern., and also those of an 

 undetermined species of Macrops which burrows in the roots of common plantain 

 (Plantago major L.). — C. V. R. 



t American Naturalist, Vol. XV, p. 751 , and Report Commissioner Agi-icultura 

 1881, p. 177. 



