Vol. IV, Nos. 7 and 8. ] I NSE C T I^ I FE . I Issued March. 1892. 



SPECIAL NOTES. 



A Bulletin on Wireworms.* — Prof. J, H. Comstock and liis assistant, 

 Mr. M. Y. Sliuijerland, have just published a very full and careful bul- 

 letin on the subject <»f Wireworms. Tlie bulk of the bulletin is taken 

 up with an account of a careful and extensive series of experiments for 

 l)reventinj:f the ravag^es of these insects or for destroying- them in their 

 (litierent states. The preventive ex])eriments were conducted entirely 

 ill the direction of ])r()tecting seed. The following substances were 

 used: Paris green and tiour, tar, salt soluticm, copper solution, chloride 

 of lime and copperas solution, kerosene oil, turpentine, and a strychnine 

 solution. The details of the experiments show that no practical results 

 are Ukely to be obtained in this direction. 



The results of the exjieriments for the destruction of the larvae show 

 that it is not worth while to attempt to starve out the worms by leav- 

 ing land in fallow through the season f that the growing of Buckwheat, 

 Mustard, or Rape upon infested land does not rid it of Wireworms. 

 Kerosene emulsion and pure kerosene as well as crude petroleum, while 

 moderately etfective, are not recommended on account of their cost. 

 The killing power of salt, kainit, muriate of potash, lime, chloride of 

 lime, and gas lime upon thelarvjc was carefully tested with the result 

 that salt was found to be the only substance from which any prac- 

 tical results were obtained. Used at the rate of eight tons per acre the 

 worms will be destroyed, but there wiil be no chance for vegetation for 

 some time aftei'wards, and as a matter of course the remedy will be so 

 expensive as to preclude its use except upon very valuable land. So 

 far in the course of the experimentation against the larvte, scarcely 

 any practical results have been obtained, but the work against the adult 

 beetles was more satisfactory. Fall plowing is shown to destroy the 

 l)erfect insects. The early recommendations in regard to trapi)iug tlie 

 beetles with baits of clover and dough are repeated. Trap lanterns 

 were used without satisfactory result. The closing portions of the bul- 

 letin include a consideration of the life-history of Agriofcs ))ia)ici(s, As- 

 apJies flecoJorafns, Melanotns commifniN, Drostcrius eleganfi, and Crypto- 



Cornell University Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin No. 3.3. 



231 



