affecting the Turnips, Corn-crops, &fe. 
211 
Every Root-worm has been designated the Wireworm by agri- 
culturists. 
Great errors circulated in print by persons ignorant of the 
science of Entomology. 
Seventy species of Beetles inhabiting England, which are the 
parents of Wireworms. 
These Elater beetles are called Spring-beetles, Skip-jacks, and 
Snap or Click beetles, from the power they have of leaping up 
when placed on their backs, and the noise they make on such 
occasions. 
Eggs minute, and whether laid in the earth, or in the base of 
the young wheat-stalks, not determined. 
Wireieorms almost invisible when first hatched : but some, when 
full-grown, nearly an inch long. 
They \ivejive years in the larva or feedint; state. 
They cast their skins several times, after which they are white, 
and very tender for a short time. 
They resemble the mealworm, but are smaller, not so cylin- 
drical, and very different when minutely examined. 
They have small mouths, with strong jaws, six pectoral feet, and 
an anal foot. 
When full-grown the Wireworm forms a cell in the earth, in 
which it moults and becomes a pupa or chrysalis, generally in 
July or August. 
T^ns pupa is stationary, quiescent, and harmless. 
It changes again to an Elater or beetle in two or three ivechs ; 
at first it is white and tender, but in a short time it gains its proper 
colour and hardness. 
The beetles run with their heads down, and drop when ap- 
proached : they also fly tcell, and are perfectly harmless, feeding 
only on flowers. 
The females sometimes have the ovipositor ox egg-tube exserted. 
The mouth of the Elater differs considerably from that of the 
Wireworm, but consists of the same organs more perfected. 
Four species of Elaters most common in corn-fields, which ha\ e 
been reared from the Wireworms. 
Elater sputator the smallest of these, and variable in colour : 
found in the spring. 
Elater obscurus rather larger, and appears also in the spring. 
Elater lineatus supposed by some to be a variety of tlie fore- 
going species. It is now by far the most abundant, and is found 
in spring and summer. 
Elater ruficaudis, the largest of the four, and abundant in the 
spring on netdes. 
Scarcely any land free from the Wireworm, and but few crops 
which they will not attack. 
p 2 
