556 The Insect and Allied Pests of the Hop. [oct., 



during the last sixteen years in Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hamp- 

 shire, and Worcestershire. 



Wireworms (Elateridae). 



Wireworms (PL i, Fig. 8) are among the most serious 

 insect pests of hops. As is well known, they are the larval 

 stage of beetles known as "Skip jacks," or "Click" Beetles 

 (PI. i, Fig. 9). At least three species, viz., Agriotes lineatus, 

 A. sputator, and A. obscurus, are found in hop hills, but all 

 have a very similar life-history. 



These larvse feed upon the roots, attacking both the fibrous 

 and large roots, and not only gnaw their substance, but 

 eat right into them. They work almost entirely below 

 ground and attack nearly all plants, mustard alone seeming 

 to be free from their ravages. Wireworms are especially 

 harmful on newly broken pasture land, and hops, if placed 

 on such land, are sure to fail, unless the land has been 

 previously treated so as to reduce their numbers. Plants 

 attacked by wireworm put forth sickly shoots, and may even 

 die under their attack. 



Life-history . — The Click Beetles appear in greatest num- 

 bers in June, but a few occur in May, and some on until 

 August, according to Whitehead, though I have failed to 

 trap any in hop gardens in Kent after the middle of July. 

 Click Beetles can at once be recognised by their shape 

 (PI. 1, Fig. 9), by their curious skipping movements, and by 

 the noise they make. The one figured is a little larger than 

 natural size, but another species {Agriotes sputator) found 

 amongst hops is no more than J in. long. 



In June these beetles may be found in numbers towards 

 evening on the bine, sometimes at the very top, but more 

 especially crawling up grasses and weeds around the gardens. 

 During the day the;y mostly seek shelter under stones, clods 

 of earth, &c. They deposit their ova both in and on the 

 soil, and especially choose close vegetation, though this is 

 by no means always the case, for they are found in clean 

 hop gardens and clean gardens as often as where weeds are 

 allowed to flourish, but never in such great numbers. They 

 certainly prefer a dense growth of vegetation if it is anywhere 



