INJURIOUS INSECTS. 327 



REMEDY. Late sowing after the 20th of September is 

 usually found very wise. Some prefer to sow early, and then, 

 by excellent cultivation and thorough fertilization sowing only 

 the most vigorous varieties they hope to so increase the vigor 

 of the crop that it will not materially suffer. 



Wire Worm. Elater. Family, Elateridce. Order, Coleop- 

 tera. Few insects are more dreaded in many parts of the coun- 

 try than are the wire worms. If we except beans, peas, and 

 buckwheat, we can hardly mention a crop that they do not 

 often seriously injure. They are only bad, however, on crops 

 the second and third year after sod is plowed under. 



NATURAL HISTORY. Wire worms, the larvae of elater (Fig. 8), 

 or spring beetles, usually feed on rotten wood, so that we can. 

 ^^^^r^pCjjSt^^^ hardly raise a piece of bark on a de- 

 Fia.8. caying log, or turn over a rotten log, 



without finding them. Would that all were content with such a 

 diet; but not so, for, as too many know by disheartening experi- 

 ence, some of them attack the newly planted potatoes in a per- 

 fectly ruinous manner, so that to have a crop demands a second 

 planting. Nor do they behave better towards the fresh corn 

 plants. These wire-worms are well named, as they 

 much resemble in form both a worm and a wire. 

 They have the six usual jointed legs, and thus may 

 be easily told from the myriapods, which they some- 

 what resemble, but which have many legs. They 

 work for several years and pupate in an earthen 

 cocoon. The beetles (Fig. 9) which come from these 

 grubs, are the well known elaters, or spring beetles, which pos- 

 sess such a power of springing up, if, perchance, they fall on 

 their back. This habit, no less than their peculiar form, will 

 serve to distinguish them wherever seen. I am not able to state 

 what species are injurious when in the larvae state. 



REMEDIES. The same course as that recommended for cut- 

 worms and the white grub fall plowing and frequent harrowing, 

 to give the fall and spring birds a good chance, will also serve 

 here. In England, where they are greatly troubled with these 

 same or similar insects, it is common to bury potatoes with a 



