25 



in straw until it becomes too large for its burrow, and then passes to the roots, 

 often destroying a whole stool uf the grain in this way. Pupates beside the roots, 

 and after two or three weeks transforms to the adult. Has reared these beetles 

 from wheat stubble in August. 



Bruner, Lawrence.— Report on Nebraska Insects. (Bull. 22, U. S. Div. 

 Ent., p. 99.) 



Discusses ^^^^^^(^///(jrw.yji^i^Tr?';^//^,? under the name of the blue-grass weevil. 

 Says it has been increasing quite rapidly in numbers, and is one of the commonest 

 beetles in the city of Lincoln, Neb. Feeds on roots of common blue-grass, and in 

 some lawns has killed large patches of sod. Beetles appear in early fall and 

 spring. Thinks the insect is probably double brooded, but says that some of the 

 beetles may come out in fall while the remainder may lie overthe winteras pupae. 

 Found fully mature larvae early in June and others in October. Damp and well- 

 watered lawns infested as badly as those that are dry, although they do not show 

 the injury so quickly. 



Smith, J. B. — Report of the Entomologist. (12th Ann. Rep. N. J. Agr. Exper. 

 Station, for the Year 1891, pp. 394-395.) 



Gives report of correspondents concerning injuries to corn. One says " Very 

 much worse where there is wire-grass or quack-grass. " Another says that he hears 

 much complaint of them, confined principally to old mowing-lands. Another 

 says the beetle is commonly known as the timothy bug, as it only seems to be 

 bad after an old timothy sod is turned down ; and still another reports it 

 as sometimes very destructive to young corn when planted on timothy sod plowed 

 in spring or late winter. Said also to be very injurious in Chester county, Pa. 

 Injuries reported from May 25 to June 17. Smith says nothing is positively 

 known concerning" early stages. Reason to believe that larva lives in timothy 

 sod. Found no eggs in punctured corn plants. Mentions use of arsenical poi- 

 sons and kerosene, but is skeptical as to their value. Thinks it poor policy to re- 

 plant only hills killed by the beetles, because these would be killed in turn. 

 Recommends plowing sod for corn in fall and early winter with a view to killing 

 out the insects living in or under the sod. 



1893. 

 Smith, J. B.— Report of the Entomologist. ( 13th Ann. Rep. N. J. Agr. Ex- 

 per. Station, for the Year 1892, p. 390. ) 



Mentions corn bill-bug as again troublesome in some counties, frequently 

 necessitating the replanting of corn. Injury minimized when fall plowing has 

 been practiced. Period of injury short ; replantings generally unharmed. 

 Webster, F. M.— ( Ohio Farmer, July 20. 1893, Vol. 84, p. 57.) 



Reports on larva of a Sphettophorus sent him by a correspondent who found 

 it in a root of growing wheat. Probably S. parvuliis. Describes injuries by this 

 insect to wheat and corn. Says field of corn near Jefferson, Ohio, was seriously 

 injured by it in 1893, and refers to other corn-eating species. Says that in wheat 

 fields the eggs, which he figures, are deposited just above the roots, but that the 

 young, after hatching, works its way upward ; and that as it gets larger it crawls 

 down and eats its way out of the straw, finishing its growth among the roots. Oft- 

 en eats the underground portion of a whole stool, causing it to wither and die 

 before the kernels have filled. Mentions occurrence in timothy, and says that 

 injuries to corn are usually local and not frequent. Surmises that fall plowing 

 would probably result in the diminution or prevention of the trouble, and sug- 

 gests planting some other crop than corn where the occurrence of this injury is 

 very probable. In Indiana, rye is used in this connection to advantage. 



