laid an average of only 4 eggs. 

 Legumes and broad-leaved plants, 

 such as cocklebur, ragweed, pea- 

 nuts, soybeans, and strawberries, in- 

 duce heavy egg laying ; while cow- 

 peas, blackberry, lespedeza, Mexi- 

 can clover, pecan, and tobacco have 

 the opposite effect. 



Adults live 2 to 5 months, and 

 lay eggs much of that time in the 

 presence of favored foods. 



The right combination of temper- 

 ature and moisture is required for 

 the eggs to hatch. Eggs laid dur- 

 ing the summer usually hatch in 

 about 17 days. But those laid dur- 

 ing the fall and winter require 

 longer periods — sometimes as much 

 as 100 days. Some eggs may re- 

 main viable throughout the winter 

 and hatch the following spring. 



The larvae are yellowish-white 

 grubs that are up to i/^ inch long. 

 They enter the soil and feed almost 

 constantly. As they grow, they 

 molt, or shed their skins, several 

 times. It usually takes about 11 

 months for the larvae to develop, 

 but under certain conditions some 

 larvae require 2 years or more. 



Normally, these insects pass the 

 winter as larvae in the soil, but they 

 may overwinter as eggs. In the 

 spring and summer, the larvae con- 

 struct cells 2 to 6 inches below the 

 soil surface where they transform 

 into pupae. In about 13 days, the 

 adults emerge. 



CONTROL 



You can control the white- 

 fringed beetle by applying an insec- 

 ticide. Good farm practices are 

 necessary to produce satisfactory 

 crop yields. 



The best method of controlling 

 these insects is to kill the larvae 

 with an insecticide. A single appli- 

 cation to the soil remains effective 

 for several years. 



Aldrin, chlordane, DDT, diel- 

 drin, and heptachlor will provide 

 effective control when used as indi- 

 cated. These insecticides are avail- 

 able in one of the following forms : 

 Emulsifiable concentrate or wetta- 

 ble powder, from which sprays can 

 be prepared; granule; or dust. 



Sprays, dusts, or granules may be 

 applied by power or hand equip- 

 ment, or by airplane. Consult 

 your nearest white- fringed beetle 

 inspector or your county agricul- 

 tural agent for information on the 

 best method of application. 



Cultivated Land 



To control the beetles on field or 

 truck crops, in gardens and in or- 

 chards, broadcast aldrin, chlordane, 

 DDT, dieldrin, or heptachlor on the 

 soil when preparing it for planting. 

 Immediately after application. 



Partial 



List of Plant Hosts 



of the White-Fringed 



Beetle 



Alfalfa 



Dahlia 



Lily and other 



bulbs 



Ragweed 



Beet 



Daisy 



Lima beans 





Red gum 



Beggarweed 



Dandelion 



Maypop 





Sicklepod 



Bell pepper 



Dewberry 



Marigold 





Smartweed 



Bitterweed 



Dock 



Melons 





Sorrel 



Blackberry 



Dogfennel 



Mexican clover 





Soybean 



Buttonweed 



Dollar-weed 



Morning glory 





Strawberry 



Cabbage 



Eggplant 



Muscadine 





string bean 



Careless weed 



False-indigo 



Oat 





Sunflower 



Carrot 



Hickory 



Okra 





Sweetpotato 



Celery 



Hoary pea 



Paspalum 





Tea-weed 



Chrysanthemum 



Honeysuckle 



Peanut 





Tobacco 



Citrus 



TTnr«;pnettlp 



Pecan 





Tomato 



Clover 



Horseweed 



Persimmon 





Turnip 



Cocklebur 



Pigweed 





Velvetbean 



Corn 



n-is and other rh 



'- Pinkweed 





Verbena 



Cotton 



zomes 



Pokeberry 





Violet 



Cowpea 



Kudzu 



Potato 





Wheat 



Crabgrass 



Lespedeza 



Radish 





Zinnia 



