REPORT OF THE STATE ENTOMOLOGIST IO,I2 6l 



York State. A large white maggot about an inch long and possibly 

 a species of Erax was abundant in what had been badly infested 

 sod at East Schodack, the maggots being in the proportion of four 

 to one of the white grubs. This insect appears to be a very effi- 

 cient natural enemy. There are doubtless a number of other insects 

 which live at the expense of white grubs and which have not been 

 reared, owing to the fact that parasitized Avhite grubs are very apt to 

 be overlooked in making examinations of the soil. 



The peculiar white grub fungus, Cordyceps ravenelii 

 Berkl., was found upon the farm of Mr W. S. Miller, East Green- 

 bush. Infected grubs are easily recognized by the slender, hornlike 

 processes arising from beneath the head and frequently attaining 

 a length three to four times that of the grub. These growths are 

 at first green and later they turn brown. Mr Miller states that in- 

 fected grubs were easily found over a considerable area. 



Preventives and remedies. The extended life cycle of these 

 insects and their practical restriction to grasslands make it appar- 

 ent that systematic rotation of crops is one of the most important 

 preventive measures that can be employed. It does not follow 

 from the above that new seedings may not be occasionally attacked, 

 as was the case last year, since numerous beetles emerging from 

 old meadows in some instances deposited numerous eggs in recent 

 seedings and, as a consequence, serious damage developed the fol- 

 lowing year. A rotation of crops which does not allow land to 

 remain in sod for more than two or three years, if generally fol- 

 lowed in a neighborhood, will result in reducing the danger of 

 injury from these pests to a minimum. Such a method of farm 

 management is also advisable from the general agricultural stand- 

 point. 



The danger of planting corn, potatoes or strawberries upon 

 recently turned sod, especially if the latter is infested by white 

 grubs, should be more generally recognized. The severe damage 

 frequently following such practice is due to the great restriction 

 in the number of plants per acre and the inevitable concentration of 

 the grubs upon the small amount of food available. There is no 

 evidence to show that the larvae or white grubs migrate to any 

 extent through the soil. They may make their way for a distance 

 of possibly one or two rods but hardly farther. Grassland badly 

 infested with white grubs should, if plowed, be sowed with some 

 such crop as rye which would grow with sufficient vigor to with- 

 stand any reasonable injury and produce a crop, or if an ordinary 



