07 



like the white grabs, upon the roots, developing slowly and requiring 

 about the same period for the perfection of the life cycle — about two 

 or three years. Like the white grubs, also, the wireworms transform 

 to pupje in autumn, and the change to 

 the beetle form takes place before 

 winter, the beetles usually remaining 

 in a quiescent state until their emei-- 

 gence the following spring. 



Two common and injurious species 

 are chosen as examples of this class, 

 although it must be rememljered that 

 they have not been determined as beet 

 feeders. The tirst is known as the 

 wheat wireworm {A<jri(>te-^ mancuK 

 Sa}^), and is shown four times natural 

 size in figure 01. The other is called 

 Monoerejjld'iHti ve^pertlnim and is intro- 

 duced here because known in its threc^ 

 principal stages (fig f>2). 



Heiiudiex. — OAving to their extremely 



hardy character, indicated by the 



hard, tirm texture which has given them 



the name of wireworms, as well as to 



their subterranean nature, these insects 



are even more difficult to treat satisfactorily than the white grul)s. 

 Of direct applications, poisons are of little value, but salt in large 



quantit)^ has been used l^y some persons with success for many years, 



and has been reported to 

 be one of the most etfect- 

 ive applications that can 

 be made. Strong brine, 

 however, nuist be used 

 with caution, as it some- 

 times destroys certain 

 forms of plant life. Dif- 

 ferent forms of salty 

 fertilizers are also said 

 to be of value, both as 

 stimulants to the affected 

 plants and as insecticides. 

 Among these are kainit 

 and nitrate of soda. 

 Clean cultivation and poisoned baits are also recommended, the same 



as for white grubs. In fact, where remedial measures are in use 



against either cutworms or white grubs, they apply also to wireworms, 



but are less effective. 



Fig. 01. — Aririofesmanrns: a, beetle; b, larva; 

 '■, iiiuil .segment of larva in profile — about 

 four time.s natural .size (author's illustra- 

 tion, Division of Entomology). 



Fig. 62. — Monocrcpidiiis vespertiniis: a, larva, side view; h, same, 

 dorsal vievvr77T5^lly; ''. iJupR— about three and one-half 

 time.s natural size (author's Illustration, Division of Ento- 

 mology). 



