Alfalfa in Kansas. 



393 



larvse climb to the top of the plant, curl tightly around the top of a blade 

 of grass or a leaf, and soon die. They are first covered with a white mold, 

 but later turn to a jelly-like mass. The larvae are also destroyed by 

 birds and barnyard fowls. 



FiQ. 340. Larva of the 

 clover leaf-weevil, greatly en- 

 larged. (After Folsom.) 



Fia. 341. Pupa of the 

 clover leaf- weevil ; greatly 

 enlarged. (After Folsom.) . 



REMEDIAL MEASURES. Infestations of this insect have almost always 

 been suppressed by the fungous disease, and thus repeated injury has 

 been so rare that no means of artificial control has been necessary. If 

 the larvae are injuring the alfalfa, the use of the brush drag, as recom- 

 mended for killing the larvae of the alfalfa weevil, would be an excellent 

 means of destroying the larvae of the clover leaf-weevil. If a field has 

 been infested, and damage is anticipated for the next season, the winter- 

 ing larvae (just below the surface of the soil, or in rubbish, should be 

 disturbed by disking or by using the alfalfa renovator, cultivator or 

 spiked-tooth harrow. This should be done late in the fall and early in 

 the spring before the larvae come out of their wintering quarters. Disk- 

 ing or cultivating again after the larvae have entered the ground to 

 pupate would probably destroy many of the pupae, not only by crushing 

 but also by exposing them to various foes. 



MOUND-BUILDING PRAIRIE ANT. 



(Pogonomyrmex occidentalis Cresson.) 



Large, red ants, constructing gravel-covered mounds, each surrounded 

 by its bare circular area. 



