THE WIRE-WORM. 132 



facility. Having gained the last stage of its larvae or worm 

 condition, it descends deeply into the soil, and forming a 

 bare walled elliptical-shaped cell there, it assumes the pu- 

 pa or chrysalis form, this taking place somewhere about 

 the end of July or the beginning of August, and retaining 

 this pupa condition some three or four weeks, probably, 

 however, for the whole of the winter in some cases where 

 buried deeply in the soil. Early in August, however, is 

 the period, ascertained by observation, when the insects 

 work their way through the soil and commence their life on 

 its surface as the perfect beetles. These " beetles run with 

 their heads down, and drop when approached; they also 

 Jiy ivell, and are perfectly harmless, feeding only on flowers." 

 Of all the cereal crops the oat crop suffers most severely 

 from the attacks of the wire-worm; so much so that "some- 

 times it compels the discouraged farmer to lay down valu- 

 able land as pasture, to a very great disadvantage." The 

 barley crop suffers from the attacks of the wire- worm, these 

 being indicated by the change of colour which in spring 

 time the crop undergoes from a healthy green to a sickly yel- 

 low. The wheat plant also suffers very much from the at- 

 tacks of the wire-worm, which are said to continue through- 

 out the whole of the winter; but Mr. Curtis takes leave to 

 doubt whether this is the case, " for during severe frosts," 

 he says, " they descend into the soil like the larvae of the 

 cockchafer, retiring deeper and deeper as the cold increases ; " 

 but early in the year, depending greatly on the tempera- 

 ture, they make ample amends for their fast, if such be the 

 case, by diminishing, if not destroying, this important crop." 

 The wheat crop, when taken after a clover ley, is sure to 

 suffer worse after this than after any other crop ; " Indeed," 

 says Mr. Curtis, " when white clover, or suckling, and rye- 

 grass layers have been left for seed, it is scarcely possible 

 to get a wheat crop on account of the wire-worm." 



As regards the soils most likely to favour the develop- 

 ment and habits of the wire-worm, a few notes will be use- 

 ful and suggestive. Land bordering on marshes, and con- 

 sequently with a spring and friable soil, is very subject to 



