The White Grub of the May Beetle. 21 



the lower side of the larva, between the head and the first joint. 

 In length they vary from less than that of the larva, to three or 

 four times as long. Its appearance, when it has attained the latter 

 length, is shown in Figure 5. 



This interesting parasite occurs at times, in considerable abund- 

 ance, more particularly in the West, and South.* It has been 

 met with occasionally in New York, specimens having been received 

 by me from ex-Governor Seymour, occurring upon his farm 

 near Utica, and from others. 



It has been suggested that this fungus attack might be extended, 

 through propagation and distribution of the spores of the fungus, 

 but I am not aware that the experiment has ever been made. 



Preventives and Remedies. 

 Passing now to the more practical portion of this paper, we will 

 consider what may be done to control the ravages of the insect of 

 which we have been speaking, and first, the preventive means that 

 promise protection. 



Ashes. — It is stated that for strawberries, which are very liable to 

 attack, an efficient protection is found in placing a quantity of ashes, 

 either leached or unleached, upon the ground, before setting the 

 plants. This is upon the authority of Dr. Barnes, of Owasso, 

 Mich. 



Tobacco. — A gentleman from Westwood, N. J., states that by 

 digging [burying] tobacco stems into strawberry beds, the injury 

 of the grub may be prevented (Country Gentleman, Oct 21, 1875, 

 p. 669). * 



Boiling, etc. — Compacting the surface of the ground by treading 

 it with sheep or cattle, or by the use of heavy rollers, might give 

 protection from the deposit of eggs, by the inability of the beetle 

 (if this be its habit) of excavating the earth for the purpose, and 

 might also serve to prevent the easy passage of the grubs, if in the 

 soil, from one root to another. But this method, which has been 

 urged for use against many insects by English writers, seems so 

 opposed to the condition of looseness and pulverization of the soil 

 which is well known to stimulate vegetable growth, that we 

 incline to the belief that whatever protection it might yield from 

 insect injury would be counterbalanced by a stinted crop. 



* Mr. Wm. TreleasQ has found it proving very destructive to white grubs 

 in the neighborhood of Madison, Wis. {Psyche, iii, 1881, p. 279). 



