162 COLEOPTERA OR BEETLES. 



preference, wherever there is plenty of shelter, such as at the 

 base of clover, grass, and weeds. The eggs soon give rise to 

 young wireworm, which are at first white, but which gradually 

 become shiny yellowish, yellowish-brown, or even brown in 

 colour. Wireworm have an extremely tough skin, and are 

 provided with a very powerful mouth ; the first three segments 

 have each a pair of jointed legs, and there is also a fleshy 

 swelling beneath the anal segment ; in addition there are a 

 few hairs scattered over the surface. When full grown a 

 wireworm may reach the length of about an inch to over 

 an inch, depending upon the species. They take at least 

 three years to mature, and in many instances four or even 

 five, especially if food is scarce. They live almost entirely 

 underground, upon the roots of plants. During winter they 

 cease feeding if the weather is severe ; but if the winter is 

 open they may feed all the time. When full-grown they 

 burrow deep into the earth and pupate, this change apparently 

 taking place in the autumn ; in the following spring or early 

 summer the adult beetle escapes from the ground. 



Nearly all plants are devoured by wireworm, with the ex- 

 ception of mustard, which tliey will not touch. Flax is also 

 said to be exempt from their attack. They feed very ravenously, 

 and destroy far more than they can devour, hence the great 

 damage caused by them. Permanent pasture and clover ley 

 contain the greatest number of these pests, as they can there 

 work without being molested. Serious attacks of tliis larva 

 usually follow the breaking-up of pasture and clover leys, unless 

 the land is to some extent freed of these vermin first. 



Previmtion and Remedies. — When land is going to be broken 

 up, it is well to feed it down with sheep, and then feed them 

 artificially on it. ]!y so doing all the available herbage is 

 cleared oif, the land is trodden down firm, preventing the 

 wireworm from moving and made objectionable by the sheep's 

 exrroment. This process places the pests under unfavourable 

 conditions. On breaking the land up a dressing of gas-lime is 



