CHAPTER XXII 



Insect Pests of Garden and Field Crops 



Wire worms (Elateridoe) 



WiREWORMS are slender, cylindrical worms, ^ inch to 1 inch long, 



their skin brown and shining, the segments showing plainly. They 



have three pairs of small, dark legs close to the front end of the body. 



The whole insect looks 



tough and wiry. 



They infest a variety 



of field and garden 



crops, working on or in 



the roots or tubers, and 



are especially injurious 



to corn and potatoes, 



though they attack 



freely wheat, oats, and 



other cereals. 



There are several 



species, differing in 



minor characters but alike in general appearance and manner of work. 



All are the larvae of " click beetles," or " snapping beetles." Ordinarily 



they breed in sod 

 ground, the worms 

 feeding on the roots 

 of grasses. In such 

 circumstances their 

 presence is seldom 

 noted, because the 



Fig. 68. — The Wheat Wireworm. Enlarged and nat- S^'O^nd is SO W^ell 

 ural size. Original. filled with roots that 



107 



Fig. 67. — Adult of the Wheat Wireworm, Ayri- 

 otes mancus Say. Enlarged and natural size. 

 Original. 



