March, '13] 



WIREWORMS AND WHITE GRUBS 



3 



in the soil the first season, and usually some that are nearly full 

 grown the second season. Without the network of grassroots to 

 feed on, the worms attack the crops that have been planted, if 

 the latter are suited to their taste. Potatoes are especially liable 

 to serious injury, because the amount of fopd in the soil is at 

 first comparatively small, and the worms prefer the tubers to 

 the roots. Corn, also, is apt to be damaged. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF WHITE GRUBS. 



In general appearance white grubs are the reverse of wire- 

 worms. The body i;s thick and soft, dingy white in color, usu- 

 ally somewhat swollen and darker toward the hind end. The 



ONE OF THE COMMON WHITE GRUBS. 



head is small and dark brown. The grubs have a habit of lying 

 more or less curled up in the soil. They are quite sluggish. 



The parents or adults of white grubs are certain species of 

 beetles commonly known as May beetles, or "June bugs." 

 They are fairly large, heavy of body, and brown in color. During 

 the day they are apt to remain quiet, but in the evening they are 

 in flight, and frequently fly into houses through unscreened win- 

 dows. The adults feed to some extent on the foliage of a few 

 kinds of trees, especially oaks, but usually do not do much 

 damage. 



The different life stages that this insect goes through are four 

 in number. Eggs are laid by the adult beetles. Grubs hatch 



