82 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



beetles will be destroyed. Many remedies suggested for the 

 wire worms have not, on more extended trial, proven worth while. 

 Among these may be mentioned the use of poisoned baits and 

 the treatment of seed, coating it with gas tar and other materials 

 as used for the protection of seed from crows. Prof. H. T. Fer- 

 nald tried treating the seed with gas tar first and then dusting it 

 with Paris green until the seed had a greenish color and reported 

 good results from the treatment. It has not, however, shown 

 equally good results elsewhere. Prof. J. J. Davis states that the 

 species most injurious in the Central West are those found in 

 poorly drained soil and recommends drainage as an adequate 

 remedy. Since the land is improved by the drainage anyhow 

 the costs cannot be charged entirely to the insects and the ad- 



FIG. 59. A, last segment of Melanotus communis, dorsal view (After Forbes); 

 B, the wheat wireworm, Agriptes mancus a, 6, c, d, details of mouth- 

 parts, enlarged; C, caudal segment of the wireworm of Drasteterius 

 elegans; D, caudal segment of the wireworm of Asaphes decoloratus, 

 iruch enlarged. (A, C, D, after Forbes; B, after Slingerland.) 



vise would seem to be sound. A short rotation of crops is also 

 recommended and is said to prevent the increase in the numbers 

 of the wireworms. 



The Stalk-borer * 



This species may well be called the stalk-borer, for it not only 

 tunnels the stalks of potatoes being often called the potato stalk - 

 borer and tomatoes, but frequently infests corn, cotton and a long 

 list of garden crops, grains, grasses, flowering plants, and various 

 common weeds. Apparently the latter, such as ragweed, cockle- 

 bur and the like, are its normal food plants, and when they are 

 destroyed or where more tender cultivated plants are near by, 

 it attacks whatever is available. Two or three nearly related 

 species have very similar habits. 



* Papaipema nitela Gn. Family Noctuidce. 



