242 THE PEANUT— THE UNPREDICTABLE LEGUME 



Southern Corn Rootworm. This insect is the larva of a 12-spotted 

 leafbeetle, Diabrotica duodecimpunctata (F), commonly called the 

 spotted cucumber beetle. The life history and habits of the insect are well 

 known (144, 82, 4, 137). Both adults and larvae arc polyphagic in their 

 feeding habits, several hundred species of plants serving as hosts. The 

 foliage of cucurbits and many of the legumes are among the preferred foods 

 of adults. Eggs are deposited in the soil and the larvae develop upon un- 

 derground parts of many plants including young corn and the pods of 

 peanuts. The time for development from egg to adult is 30 to 40 days dur- 

 ing warm weather. Adults over-winter only in the Southern States. Dur- 

 ing the summer months, many adults migrate northward and cause dam- 

 age to cucurbits and other crops. 



The extent of the damage caused by this species to peanuts has not 

 been clearly evaluated. Apparently the insect is more destructive in Vir- 

 ginia than in Alabama. 



Banded Cucumber Beetle. The banded cucumber beetle, D. balteata 

 Lee. is a pest of beans, vetches, cucurbits, alfalfa, tomatoes and many 

 other vegetables, fruits and ornamental plants. It is restricted to warm 

 climates, occurring in the U. S. in the Gulf Coast States and California. 

 It is distributed in Alabama from the central part of the State south- 

 ward (127). The insect is found in the northern extremities of its range 

 only in late summer and fall. 



The banded cucumber beetle has been known in Mexico for many 

 years. In 1905 it was found in Texas (29) and in 1922 in Alabama ( 127) . 

 Little is known regarding the habits of the larva. It will feed on under- 

 ground parts of peanuts, corn, sti;ing beans, and doubtless many other 

 plants. Using corn as food for the larvae Robinson (128) found that 

 approximately 30 days were required for development from egg to adult 

 during warm weather. The number of generations, seasonal abundance, 

 overwintering habits, and food preferences of larvae and adults in the 

 peanut-growing areas are largely unknown. There is a need for ad- 

 ditional research on this insect and an evaluation of its damage to peanuts. 



Wireworms. Wireworms of the genus Heteroderes^^ were found by 

 the writer damaging peanut pods in Alabama in 1947. Larvae of the 

 genus Cebria}^ were also collected from peanuts. 



The wireworm, Heteroderes laurentii Guer., is widely distributed in 

 the Southeastern States and causes economic damage to a variety of 

 crops, including corn, snapbeans, potatoes, lespedeza and sweet potatoes 

 (31). So far as the writer is aware, there is no record of damage from 

 Cebria sp. in Alabama or adjoining States. 



" Identification by Dr. W. H. Anderson, U. S. Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine. 



