68 



One of the best forms of bait to be used consists of slices of potatoes 

 or other vegetables poisoned in the same manner as advised in the 

 consideration of cutworms. 



MISCELLANEOUS ROOT-INFESTING INSECTS. 



In addition to white grubs, wireworms, and root-lice, which have 

 been treated as invading- the underground portion of beets, a few 

 other species are found at the roots. Prominent among such are the 

 seed-corn maggot and the clover-root mealj-bug. A number of com- 

 plaints have been made of injury by insects which lead to the belief 

 that the seed-corn maggot is frequently found on beets, although 

 instances which could be positively traced to this species are com- 

 paratively few. 



THE CLOVER-ROOT MEALY-BUG. 



{ I)achiloj)ii(.s trifoUl Forbe.s. )" 



This species, as its common name indicates, is better known as an 

 enemy of clover, on the roots of which it feeds. In 1901, however, it 



appeared in considerable numbers on sugar 

 beet in Michigan, the smaller stunted roots 

 being invariably infested. Injiay was most 

 apparent in June. The female mealy-bug- 

 measures a little more than one-twelfth of an 

 inch in length, is reddish brown, and covered 

 Avith a waxy or meal}' secretion. The legs are 

 dirty yellow, and from the sides project in the 

 manner usual to this group 15 to 17 wax}' fila- 

 FiG. GX-Dadiiioiyius citri: ft- meuts, the shortcst being near the head and 



male— enlarged (Division of , ji , -i ,• ^i • i 



Entomology). the lougcst near the tail, sometimes one-third 



as long as the body. It is related to the scale 



insects and is of similar appearance to the species shown in figure 63. 



Remedies. — The same methods of control that have been prescribed 



for root-lice would operate against the present species, with about the 



same results. 



THE SEED-CORN MAGGOT. 



( Pegnmya fusciceps Zett. ) ^ 



Beet roots are subject to attack })y the above-named species of 

 root maggot. During November of 1902 we received complaint of 

 what was with little doubt this insect from Colorado, where it was 

 breeding in rot-infected roots, apprehension being expressed that 



«Syn: Coccus trifolU Forbes; 14th Report State Ent. 111. for 1884 (1885), pp. 72-73; 

 Pettit: Bui. 200, Mich. Agr. Exp. Sta. for 1901 (1902), pp. 193-194; Davis: Insect 

 Life, Vol. VII, p. 172. 



^See Bui. 33, n. s., Div. Ent., pp. 84-92, for synonymy, bibliography, etc. 



