82 INSECT PESTS OF FARM, GARDEN AND ORCHARD 



brownish beetles of the family Elateridce, which from their 



habit of snapping their 

 bodies up in the air 

 are known as " click 

 beetles." The beetles 

 are one-half to three- 

 quarters inch long, de- 

 cidedly flattened, dark 

 brown, often with 

 darker markings, with 

 short heads, and shield- 

 shaped thoraxes, as 

 shown in Fig. 50. Although the 

 common wireworms look much 

 alike, examination usually re- 

 veals that they belong to several 

 species which are distinguished 

 by a comparison of the caudal 

 segments, as shown in Fig. 51. 



Life History. The life history 

 is very similar to that of the 

 white grubs, except that from 

 three to five years are required 

 fqr the complete life cycle. The 

 eggs are deposited in old sod 

 land, which is the favorite 

 breeding ground. The detailed 

 life histories have not been care- 

 fully studied, but the second year 

 after grass land has been planted 



in grain is that in which the 



FIG. 50. A. beetle of wheat wireworm 



(Agriotes mancus) X 4; B, D, beetle worst injury occurs, particu- 

 (X4) and wireworm (X7) of Draste- Jarly with corn, upon which the 

 rius deqans; C, the corn wireworni , . , , , 



(Mdar^tuscribulosus) x4*. (After attack 1S more concentrated than 

 Forbes.) with small grains. The larvae 



become full grown in midsummer, form small cells in the soil 



D 



