402 



FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CULTURE 



is to plow under the clover immediately after the first 

 crop of hay is cut. With the death of the plant the larvae 

 also die. If, however, the plowing is delayed until later, 

 the larvae may have attained their growth and will then 

 develop into adults. 



The clover-leaf weevil (Phytonomus punctatus). 

 This little beetle and its larvae feed on the foliage of red 

 clover in early spring. The damage is seldom serious, 

 and in any event serves mainly to delay the maturing of 

 the plant. 



The clover-flower midge (Dasyneura leguminicola) . 

 This little two-winged fly lays its eggs in the blossoms and 

 the maggot injures the blossoms so that seeds are not 

 formed. One method of control suggested is to cut the 

 hay early, as this will destroy many of the larvae before 

 they have time to develop further. 

 When clover is grown primarily for 

 seed, sometimes the first crop is 

 clipped so as to bring the blooming 

 of the next crop later in the summer, 

 in this way avoiding much injury 

 by the midge. 



The clover-seed chalcis fly (Brucho- 

 phagus funebris). This is a small, 

 black, wasp-like insect whose larva 

 , FlG - 4 ,t'~ ~ ke , tch f develops in the clover seed, all of 



showing the effect of . *\ 



the clover-seed chalcis which is eaten excepting the hard 

 shell. The work of this insect is 

 conspicuous by the finding of hollow 



ture insect is shown in seedg each con t a i n i n g a round hole 

 the act of emerging. 



through which the adult has emerged 

 (Fig. 44). The only remedy suggested is pasturing the 

 crop in early spring, or clipping the first crop so as to 



fly. Calyx (a), seed cap- 

 sule (b) and seeds (c 

 and d). At c the ma- 



