92 
Control. — The reported outbreaks of the larvae in spring have al- 
most always been suppressed by the virulent disease just described. 
This disease prevents the summer damage by the beetles, often killing 
the larvae before they have done much injury. 
Riley's recommendation to plow badly infested clover under in 
May rather than to allow it to become a source of contagion, has sel- 
dom been followed unless the clover root-borer also has been present, 
for the leaf-weevil by itself has not often done an immense amount of 
damage. 
The fact that the young larvae hibernate, led Riley to mention the 
possibility of crushing them or burning them, but he added his doubt 
as to the practicability of killing them by rolling or by burning the 
clover stubble in winter. 
The necessity for the employment of any remedy does not appear 
until the clover is well on in its second year's growth. If damage is an- 
ticipated, however, it would seem advisable to pasture the clover lightly 
or to clip it back in spring ; this does not hurt the clover, is highly de- 
sirable as a means of forestalling the attacks of some other clover 
pests, and might check the larvae of the leaf-weevil somewhat, tho it 
is possible that they would subsist on the cut stems until the new 
growth started; and in cold weather they can live a long time without 
any food. 
After the second season red clover should be plowed under to get 
rid of this and other pests, as well as for agricultural reasons. 
Phytonomus punctatus Fab. 
" 1882. Riley, C. V.— Rep. [U. S.] Comm. Agr., 1881-82, pp. 171- 
179. 
Lintner, J. A.— First Rep. Ins. N. Y., pp. 247-253. 
1884. Kilman, A. H.— Can. Ent., Vol. XVI., pp. 144, 145. 
1896. Webster, F. M.— Bull. No. 68, Ohio Agr. Exper. Sta.. pp. 
27-31. 
Clover Root-borer 
Hylastinus obscurus Marsh. 
{Hylastes obscurus, H. trifolii Miill., Hylcsinus trifolii Miill.) 
This pernicious root-borer is gradually spreading over the United 
Slates and Canada, and has already ruined crops of clover in New 
York, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Often the injury done by this 
insidious insect has been attributed to drought or disease. The in- 
jury appears in the wilting and death of the plant. A badly injured 
plant breaks off easily at the crown ; the roots are burrowed out length- 
wise, and in the burrows can be found white footless grubs, or little, 
dark brown, cylindrical beetles, as tough in body as the others of their 
family, Scolytidce. 
