10 



farmers' bulletin 587. 



BENEFICIAL HABITS OF SKUNKS. 



The skunk feeds mainly upon insects, but its economic status can 

 not be fixed by this habit alone. This must rest on the character of 

 the insects eaten. Not all insects are injurious, as certain kinds 

 themselves feed upon injurious species and are therefore highly bene- 

 ficial. The skunk is one of the most important mammals in its choice 

 of harmful insects for its diet. 



SKUNKS AND ARMY WORMS. 



The skunk is the best-known mammal enemy of army worms. 

 The common army worm, the wheat-head army worm, and the fall 

 army worm are all very destuctive to small grains, corn, and grasses, 

 and their invasions entail heavy losses among farmers. The good 

 work of skunks in destroying army worms has frequently been noticed. 

 In a report on this insect in Pennsylvania, published in 1896, Dr. 

 B. H. Warren brought forward much testimony of farmers as to the 

 usefulness of skunks in the work of extermination. 1 Also, he had 

 examined three skunk stomachs which contained chiefly beetles and 

 army worms. Prof. Lugger of Minnesota 2 also mentioned the 

 skunk as one of the principal enemies of the army worm in that 

 State. 



SKUNKS AND TOBACCO WORMS. 



Skunks are fond of the insects known as tobacco worms. Two 

 species of these larvae very destructive to tobacco and tomato plants 

 are the southern tobacco worm and the northern tobacco worm.. 

 Both species occur over wide areas in the United States, and in sec- 

 tions where no tobacco is grown they feed upon tomato and potato 

 plants. While the worms are active skunks gather them from the 

 plants, and when the worms go into the ground in the latter part of 

 summer, the animals dig out pupae in great numbers. The evidence 

 of this is found in numerous small pits bearing marks of the skunks' 

 claws. The mature moths, as well as the larvae and pupae, are eaten 

 by skunks. 



SKUNKS AND WHITE GRUBS. 



The larvae of scarabaeid beetles are known generally as white grubs, 

 and among them number some very destructive insects. The 

 larvae of "June bugs," or "May beetles," infest grass lands and feed 

 upon the roots of grasses and other plants. They are among the 

 chief enemies of the strawberry, and also seriously affect the potato, 

 gnawing the tubers and often making large portions of the crop unfit 

 for sale. 



Skunks are very fond of these white grubs and spend much time 

 digging for them. Strawberry growers recognize the usefulness of 



1 Annual Report of Pennsylvania State College, 1896, pp. 164-220. 



2 Bull. 48, Minn. Agr. Exp. Sta., 1896, p. 46. 



