ENEMIES OF CORN. 149 



in appearance and origin. Its ravages are confined to 

 the roots of plants, nor is it ever known, like the lat- 

 ter, to attack the stalk above ground. Various other 

 plants, equally with maize, are subject to its depreda- 

 tions ; the grasses being sometimes damaged or de- 

 stroyed over entire fields, in its devouring progress. 

 The May-beetle, sometimes called the Dor-bug, is the 

 parent of this worm. The color of the beetle is a 

 chestnut-brown, with the breast inclining to yellow, 

 and in length it sometimes reaches an inch, though 

 usually a little less. The grub, as its name implies, is 

 a white worm, with a head approaching to brown. 



The WiKE-WoKM. The havoc committed by this 

 insect is also below the surface of the ground, and ex- 

 tends to the planted seed as well as to the roots that 

 spring from it. This grub is the offspring of the 

 Elator, or Spring-beetle. It attacks, with but little 

 discrimination, the roots of most herbaceous plants 

 within its reach, to some of which it is often very de- 

 structive. According to Mr. Townsend Glover, the 

 entomologist of the Department of Agriculture, " the 

 true wire-worm is the larva of a species of elator; or 

 click-beetle, commonly known by the trivial name of 

 snapping-bug, from its habit of being able to throw 

 itself some distance in the air with a sudden click, 

 when laid upon its back ; it is said to pass five years 

 in the larva or feeding state, and resembles the com- 

 mon meal-worm, the body being cylindrical, very 

 tough, of a yellowish brown color, and furnished with 

 a distinct head, and only six legs." 



The SPINDLE-WORM takes its name from its destroy- 



