62 MODERN STRAWBERRY GROWING 
common throughout the United States that 
they need no introduction. They are particu- 
larly abundant in grasslands, both meadows 
and pastures, owing to the fact that their 
principal food is the roots of grass, weeds, 
and herbs. These insects destroy practi- 
cally every strawberry plant almost as soon 
as it is set, if sod ground is used for grow- 
ing strawberries. 
When the grubs have become full-grown, 
they have a rest period or pupal stage in 
which they encase themselves in earthen 
cells in the soil. After a certain lapse of 
time they come out as small beetles and feed 
upon the foliage of the plants, sometimes 
doing considerable damage. 
The remedy for the insects in the larval 
stage is to fall plough sod land, following this 
by one or more years of crops that require 
good tillage. In the case of the strawberry 
beds being affected, it would be very difficult 
to deal with the grubs on account of their 
underground habits. If badly affected it 
would be better to plough up. Breeding 
grounds, such as old strawberry beds, should 
not be allowed to remain. 
Crown eaters.— Several different insects 
