HYLESINUS TRIFOLII. CLOVER ROOT liORER. 377 



length. The pupa IS 2.2 m m.long iiiid luis two spinous projoe- 

 tions on the top of the liead, and two sinaMor iiiial proji'ftions. 

 Tlu' imago is hlack, with brown punctured elytra. It is "J ni ni 

 (.08 of an incli) i )ng. 



The beetle hibernates, usually as an imasro, but also as a )ni))a 

 or larva. Mating occurs in early spring, when the female bores 

 into the crown of the plant and deposits live or six eggs. When 

 these luitch the larva feeds at first in the opening formed by the 

 imago for her eggs, but soon works downward forming tunnels 

 lengthwise of the main roots, which entirely destroys the plant. 



In September many pupae will be found in the ujiper jtart of 

 the galleries. 



The beetle has bcoome the worst enemy to the clover that we 

 have. It has already shown its destructive work in nearly every 

 clover jiroducing section between the Atlantic and Pacific. Surely 

 such enterprise as would carry the insect from Europe to America 

 can hardly be expected to jjcrmit it to remain stationary on this 

 continent. The fact that it has no parasites, as yet discovered, 

 to weaken its efforts or reduce its numbers, not only accounts 

 for its exceeding numbers in this countrj" as compared with Eu- 

 rope, but also gives 2)rophecy of wide extension and serious rav- 

 ages in the future. 



It is difiiicult to suggest satisfactory remedies for insects which 

 are so numerous and scattered as are these beetles. It is jirob- 

 able, in fact the experience in New York already <nnlirins the 

 suggestion, that they will not be ecpuilly destructive evi-ry year; 

 that while they may ruin whole fields one season the very next 

 year they may be ojiite rare aiul far less injurious. The only 

 remedy thus far suggested is to ])low the clover under wlieii the 

 insects are discovered to be at work, and not grow clover for a 

 time. This green manuring would certainly be very excellent 

 for the land. Yet it is to be feared that the insects would take 

 to other herbage, possibly other leguminous i»lants, rather than 

 84 



