389 
WIRE: WORMS, OR DIABROTICA LARV&. 
About Condong on the Tweed River in the early part of spring a 
large number of the young plants were destroyed to such an extent 
that in some of the fields in a distance of 40 or 50 yards all had to be 
replanted, often the second time. This had been done, it was claimed, 
by wire-worms (Elaterid larve). During my visit these larvee had dis- 
appeared, and only in one instance, while digging up oneof the plants, 
one of these ora similar larva was found at the roots of a healthy 
plant adjoining one which had been destroyed. The burrow within the 
dead plant had been made, to all appearances, some months before. 
The plant on which this larva was found did not show any traces of 
having been injured in the slighest degree. This particular larva was, 
however, completely crushed in taking out the plant and could not be 
recognized as an Elaterid. It had more resemblance to a Chrysomelid, 
probably Diabrotica, beetles of which, in fact, had appeared for the first 
time, it was said, in very large numbers in this locality, feeding upon 
tassels of cane. 
Two of the larve found during spring within the narrow burrows 
below ground were promised to be forwarded to Sydney for a more care- 
ful examination. 
Should these prove to be the larvee of Diabrotica, as I am inclined 
to believe is the case, since hardly any Elaterid beetles were met with, 
it would be highly advisable to destroy the beetle with an arsenical 
poison by spraying the tassels of corn. Paris green would act admira- 
bly, about one pound of this to two hundred gallons of water. 
The larvee of Diabrotica are destructive to corn and no doubt to cane 
as well in America, and as maize is planted extensively in this locality 
these beetles will probably increase greatly from year to year if proper 
steps are not taken todestroy them. In the same district, during a cer- 
tain time of the year, it is claimed that the ‘* blight” is destroying the 
corn. I should not hesitate in saying that the real agent of this is not 
fungoid, as is claimed, but the larve of this Diabrotica boring in the 
the plants below the surface. In this conclusion I may be wrong, but 
investigation at the proper time would reveal the facts. 
NOTES ON LACHNOSTERNA. 
By G. H. PERKINS, Burlington, Vt. 
The following notes, taken from a more extended series of observa- 
tions upon Lachnosterna made at the Vermont Experiment Station, may 
be of some interest to entomologists. 
On January 28; 1891, a considerable number of larve of Lachno- 
sterna were dug from sandy grassland. There being a foot or more of 
snow over the sod the soil beneath was not frozen, Larvee were abun- 
