INDIRECT INJURIES CAUSED BY INSECTS. 9y 
1833.1 Even the seeds of grasses have their insect enemies. Mr. H. 
Gibbs stated at the meeting of the Royal Agricultural Society, May 5, 
1841, that generally not one in a dozen of the seeds of the Moxtail grasses 
(Alopecurus) vegetate, owing to their vitality being destroyed by a small 
orange-coloured grub (Cecidomyia ?).” 
Most of the insects I haye hitherto mentioned attack our crops partially, 
confining themselves to one or two kinds only; but there are some 
species which extend their ravages indifferently to a//. Of this description 
is the Pyralis (?) frumentalis, which moth, Pallas tells us, is an almost 
universal pest in the government of Kasan in Russia, often eating the 
greater part of the spring corn to the root. To this we are fortunately 
strangers ; but another, well known by the name of the wire-worm, causes 
annually a large diminution of the produce of our fields, destroying indis- 
criminately wheat, rye, oats, and grass. This insect, which has its name 
apparently from its slender form and uncommon hardness and toughness, 
is the grub of one of the elastic beetles termed by Linné Later lineatus, 
but by Bierkander, to whom we are indebted for its history, LZ. Segetis * 
(Agriotes lineatus Eschscholtz). The late ingenious Mr. Paul of Starston 
in Norfolk (well known as the inventor of a machine to entrap the turnip- 
beetle, which may be applied by collectors with great advantage to general 
purposes), has also succeeded in tracing this insect from the larva to the 
imago state. His larva produced Llater obscurus of Mr. Marsham, which, 
however, comes so near to HZ. Segetis that it is doubtful whether it be 
more than a yariety. The other species, however, of the genus have 
similar larvae, many of which probably contribute to the mischief. When 
told that it lives in its first (or feeding) state not less than five years, 
during the greatest part of which time it is supported by devouring the 
roots of grain, though it will also attack and often much injure turnips, 
potatoes, &c., you will not wonder that its ravages should be so extensive, 
and that whole crops should sometimes be cut off by it. As it abounds 
chiefly in newly broken-up land, though the roots of the grasses supply it 
with food, it probably does not do any great injury to our meadows and 
pastures.® 
1 Dufour, Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, iii. 19. 
2 Gardener's Chronicle, 1841. p. 311. 
5 Pallas’s Travels in South Russia, i. 80. 
* Marsham in Communications to the Board of Agriculture, iy. 412. Plate xviii. 
Jig. 4. and Linn. Trans. ix. 160. 
5 The wire-worm is particularly destructive for a few years in gardens recently 
converted from pasture-ground, In the Botanic Garden at Hull thus cireumstanced 
4 great proportion of the annuals sown in 1813 were destroyed byit. A very simple 
and effectual remedy in such cases was mentioned to me by Sir Joseph Banks. He 
recommended that slices of potato stuck upon skewers should be buried near the 
Seeds sown, examined every day, and the wire-worms which collect upon them in 
great nymbers destroyed. 
This plan of decoying destructive animals from our crops by offering them more 
tempting food is excellent, and deserves to be pursued in other instances. It was 
Very successfully employed in 1813 by J. M. Rodwell, Esq., of Barham Hall, near 
Ipswich, one of the most skilful and best-informed agviculturists in the county of Suf+ 
folk, to preserve some of his wheat-fields from the ravages of a small grey slug, which 
threaten to demolish the plant. Having heard that turnips had been used with 
Success to entice the slugs from wheat, he caused a sufficient quantity to dress eight 
acres to be got together; and then, the tops being divided and the apples sliced, he 
directed the pieces to be Jaid separately, dressing two stetches with them and omit« 
