10 BULLETIN 156, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



predaceous, while other forms also in this genus are known to be 

 exclusively vegetable feeders. 



During the spring of 1909 a reconnoissance was made to determine 

 the extent and nature of the damage being done by these insects. 

 Circular letters with blank forms inclosed were sent to the agents of 

 the warehouse and elevator companies at most of the large grain- 

 shipping points in the Pacific Xorthwest. These men are very inti- 

 mately in touch with the farmers and usually know of any serious 

 depredations that are likely to aiject the production of grain. From 

 their replies we found that corn was being seriously damaged at 

 Spokane, Pullman. Kiona. Johnson, and Colville. in Washington, 

 and Latah and Mineral in Idaho; oats were being almost completely 

 destroyed at Eitzville, Downs, Espanola, Govan, and Vancouver, in 

 Washington, and Moscow and Latah in Idaho ; and that wheat was 

 being damaged at Wilbur, Connell, and Govan in Washington. The 

 fact that damage to wheat was not reported from more localities 

 does not signify that wheat is less susceptible to the attacks of these 

 insects. The buyers will not report any damage to wheat for fear 

 of starting a scare among the farmers and thereby abnormally rais- 

 ing the price asked when the buying opens in the fall. 



THE INFLATED WIREWORM. 



( Cory mbit c* in flat us Say.) 



The inflated wireworm occurs throughout most of the northern 

 L nited States, but is limited as a pest to cereal crops, so far as our 

 observations now record, to the regions of eastern Washington and 

 Oregon and western Idaho, known as the semiarid Transition Zone 

 and characterized, when not under cultivation, by the presence of 

 bunch grass (Agropyron spicatum) and June grass (Poa sand- 

 Ijergu) and by the absence of sagebrush. This region is only partly 

 summer fallowed, crops often being grown on the same land for 

 several consecutive years. 



The beetle is robust, but little more than one-fourth of an inch 

 in length, and of a slate-graj T color, sometimes being almost black. 

 The wireworm is about one-half inch long, depressed, with a pair of 

 backwardly directed spurs on the ninth abdominal segment, and pale 

 yellow. 



In the spring of 1909 Mr. George I. Eeeves, of this bureau, re- 

 corded finding the larva? of the inflated wireworm damaging seed corn 

 at Pullman. Wash. His observations were carried on principally in 

 the cornfield of a Mr. Curtis, north of the town. On this farm he 

 found from 4 to 10 larvae to the hill when he first investigated the out- 

 break, on May 24, 1909. The wireworms were in various stages of 





