65 



Care in the selection of manure. — As manures are frequently infested 

 by white grubs, some of which are at times troublesome, it is well to 

 exclude such forms as experience has shown to contain an excess of 

 these creatures, as, for example, horse manure. The white grubs can 

 be identified readil}' by disintegrating- the material, and chickens and 

 other fowls can be utilized in destroying them before the manure is 

 spread on the fields. 



Attracting to Vu/hts. — May beetles are strongly attracted to lights, 

 and especially to electric-light globes. They can ])e captured to some 

 extent by means of stationary lanterns and pans of water, on which is 

 floating a thin scum of kerosene, placed below the lanterns. The 

 traps should be stationed at intervals about an infested field, particu- 

 larly around its borders." 



THE CARROT BEETLE. 



{Jjigyrtis gihbosus DeG.) 



This lieetle was reported during the year 1S9() by Professor Bruner 

 as having been quite destructi\e to the sugar 1)eet in the western por- 

 tion of Nebraska. They w^orked for the most 

 part on old ground where irrigation was prac- 

 ticed, and their operations extended on the roots 

 from the surface of the ground to 3 or 4 inches 

 below; in some instances 7 inches.^ This insect 

 is better known as a carrot pest, and is, in fact, 

 one of the worst known enemies of carrot, pars- 

 nip, and some related plants. Injury is due to 

 l^oth larva? and beetles. Young corn is often cut 

 just above the roots, and the root crops men- 

 tioned are punctured with little holes, rendering ^''''\ 'f-^'l^'J'-"' oibbomuy 



^ ' ^ iinnlt — enlargen (origi- 



them unfit for market. Tubers of potato and nai, Divisiun of Ento- 

 sweet potato are also su})ject to attack, as are the ™^ "^^ ' 

 roots of celer3^ Other plants aff-ected include the roots and talkers of 

 sunflower and dahlias as well as cotton. 



The beetle closel}' resembles the May beetle, but it will ]>e noticed 

 by reference to figure 60 that the surface of the wing-covers is strongly 

 sculptured and coarsely punctate. The beetle measures about a half 

 to five-eighths of an inch in length, with considerably shorter legs 

 than in the true May beetles. The dorsal surface is similarly colored, 



« Note. — It is often desirable to protect choice trees against the ravages of the bee- 

 tles. For this purpose nothing is better than mosquito netting. Beetles may be 

 beaten from the trees into inverted umbrellas or similar receptacles, and can be 

 readily captured and killed, as they make little effort to escape after being dislodged. 

 Spraying with arsenicals is of no practical use, as the beetles continue ieeding until 

 tire poison takes effect, and the next day the dead are replaced by other individuals. 



^For particulars see Bui. 23, o. s., Div. Ent., p. 17. 



14612— JS'o. 13—03 5 



