212 MAINE AGRICULTURAI. EXPERIMENT STATION. I905. 



came " They do not seem affected one bit by insects powder. 

 They walk right through it and do not mind it at all." 



Probably all that can be done to guard against an invasion of 

 the house is to stop the cracks with putty as far as possible and 

 then philosophically to regard these beetles that get in as really 

 harmless. It may be, too, that the beetles will not occur for 

 many years in successsion m such large numbers in the places 

 of worst infestation. At North Wayne about i8 years ago there 

 was an outbreak of the same pest which overrun the house for 

 two or three seasons, after which the trouble disappeared, not 

 to come again in conspicuous numbers until the last few years. 

 What natural agencies controlled the situation are quite a matter 

 for surmise. 



SUMMARY. 



Out of doors. The strawberry crown girdler in the larval or 

 grub stage feeds upon the roots of grasses and some other 

 plants. Strawberries are especially susceptible to attack and 

 should not be set in, or very near, soil infested by these grubs. 

 The only known practical remedy is clean cultivation. The 

 adult beetles feed upon the leaves of the strawberry and many 

 other plants, and when they are numerous enough to cause much 

 injury, arsenate of lead should be used as a spray. 



In the house. The presence of great numbers of the beetles 

 in the house is annoying but need cause no real alarm, for they 

 are bent upon no mischief either to persons, clothing or food 

 supplies. Ordinary repellents seem to be or no avail, and prob- 

 ably all that can be done to guard against them is to make the 

 house as tight and beetle proof as possible. With this precau- 

 tion such beetles as can not be conveniently swept or gathered 

 up, can be tolerated as harmless and transient guests. 



