24 BULLETIN 156, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



A larva was collected at the roots of a corn plant, which, however, 

 it did not seem to be damaging, at Hagerstown. Md.. in June. This 

 larva pupated on July 6. and the adult emerged July 15. The 

 beetle remained alive without feeding until September 12 of that 

 year. On April 30 a large number of beetles were placed in a small 

 root cage in which corn had been planted. On May 6 all the adults 

 were removed. On July 31 the cage was examined and three full- 

 grown larva? and one pupa were found. This cage was again examined 

 September 8, and two adults, which, judging from the color and 

 hardness of the integument, were at least a week old, were found. 



Pupae collected in the field emerged July 28, and two larvae col- 

 lected July 8 pupated August 10. and one of the beetles emerged 

 August 21, the other August 23. 



From the foregoing data it is evident that the life cycle is com- 

 pleted within one season, a very exceptional condition in this group of 

 beetles. The beetles leave their hibernating quarters in early spring 

 and deposit their eggs early in May. The wireworms feed during 

 May and June, and sometimes even throughout July. They start to 

 pupate in early July, continuing pupation throughout July and 

 early August. The pupal stage lasts from 8 to 13 days. The adults 

 emerge from the ground in late summer and in the fall seek hiber- 

 nating quarters under stones, boards, and rubbish. 



Forbes records x a species of wire worm (Asaphes decoloratus 

 (Say) ) as attacking clover in Illinois. This species is also recorded 2 

 as a pest in Xew York State. 



Mr. Kelly is now investigating an outbreak of a wireworm (Lacon 

 rectangularis (Say) ) in Kansas. This species has not heretofore been 

 recorded as a wheat pest, but in a recent letter to the writer Mr. 

 Kelly says: 



In one wheat field at Argonis, Kans., in the spring of 1912, as many as 27 

 per cent of the plants had been bored into and ruined in some spots, with an 

 aTerage of about IS per cent for the field. Later, however, the damage was 

 much greater, and it was a question whether the grain was worth cutting. 



The collared wireworm (C'ebrio bicolor Fab., fig. 7) has not as yet 

 been recorded as an actual pest to any crops, but as several notes 

 wherein this species has been recorded as feeding on cultivated plants 

 have come to the notice of the writer, and as one of these plants is a 

 cereal, we believe it pertinent to make a short note of this species, that 

 it may be readily recognized should it ever become a serious pest. 



The beetles of this species are not now considered as belonging to 

 the same family as the true wireworms, but the}" are so intimately 



1 Forbes, S. A. Insect Injuries to the Seed and Root of Indian Corn. 111. Agr. Exp. 

 Sta.. Bui. 44, p. 226. May, 1896. 



2 Comstock, J. H., and Slingerland, M. V. Wireworms. X. Y. Cornell Agr. Exp. Sta., 

 Bui. 33, p. 258-262, Nov., 1891. 



