Alfalfa in Kansas. 



371 



ground were disked and then harrowed it would seem as though the 

 pupal cells would be broken up, and as the pest is helpless in this stage, 

 vast numbers would be destroyed in this way. While, as stated, there has 

 not been sufficient time to carry out any exact experiments in this direc- 

 tion, it would be well for the farmers, until some better methods have 

 been devised, to take the precaution of disking and harrowing immedi- 

 ately after removing the first hay crop in order to destroy as many as 

 possible of the insects in their development. This, of course, can not be 

 done early enough in the season to prevent injury, but it will in all 

 probability reduce largely the abundance of the pest the following 

 season." 



Fir.. 316. Clover Sitones (Sitones 

 flnrescen*). Adult; ten times natural 

 size. (After Folsom, 111. Exper. Sta.) 



FIG. 317. Leaves of white clover 

 showing characteristic injury by 

 adult beetles of Sitones flavescens; 

 natural size. (After Folsom, 111. 

 Exp. Sta.) 



CLOVER SITONES. 



(Sitones flavescens All.) 



The adult, a small, dark-brown or rusty-brown, hard-bodied beetle, about 

 one-fourth of an inch long. Found eating out U-shaped patches from 

 the margin of the leaves of alfalfa and clover. (Fig. 316.) The larva, a 

 yellowish-white, footless, maggot-like grub, with a small yellowish- 

 brown head, and when full grown about one-fourth of an inch long, 

 Found feeding at the crown or at the roots of clover and alfalfa. 



History and Distribution. 



Everything indicates that this insect came from Europe, where it is 

 known to work on clover and alfalfa. It is now not only abundant in 

 the Atlantic states, but is also distributed in many of the Mississippi 

 and Missouri valley states. 



