Wireworm. 
103 
them.  Doubtless  the  wisest  policy  is  only  to  sow  seed  that 
is  free  from  the  pest. 
Wireworm. — This  scourge  to  the  cultivator  of  the  soil  exists 
as  the  wireworm  for  four  or  five  years,  then  changes  into  the 
pupal  state,  and  in  due  course  emerges  as  the  perfect  beetle 
(Click  Beetle).  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  good  cultivation  of 
the  soil  does  much  to  reduce  the  number  of  wireworms  present. 
Tf  this  is  supplemented  by  baiting  with  rape  dust  where  neces- 
sarv,  and  by  dressing  affected  cro{)s  with  rape  meal  manure, 
the  pest  may  be  effectively  dealt  with.  Baiting  is  very 
useful,  and  even  neces.sary,  where  the  ground  is  occupied  by 
a permanent  crop  like  hops.  A handful  of  rape  dust  will 
I Fio.  15— Wireworms  and  Click  Beetles,  Elater  sp.  (Coleoptera). 
2,  Elater  linentas,  magnified;  1,  Natural  size.  S,  Elater  obeeurus.  magnified;  4,  Natural 
length.  5,  Elater  eputator,  natural  size ; 6,  Magnified.  7,  Larva  of  E.  sputator  (f). 
8,  Larva  of  E.  I meat  us,  naturaX  size  ; 9.  Magnified.  10,  Pupa  of  wireworm,  magnified  ; 
11,  Natural  length. 
attract  many  of  the  wireworms  if  it  is  buried  slightly  below 
the  surface  of  the  soil,  where  its  presence  should  be  marked  by 
means  of  a stick  to  facilitate  the  w'ork  of  collecting  the  pests. 
These  baits  should  be  placed  at  intervals  of  a few  feet  apart  all 
over  the  affected  area,  and  examined  every  two  or  three  days. 
The  wireworms  may  thus  be  collected  and  destroyed.  I have 
repeatedly  saved  crops  of  carrots  from  destruction  even  when  it 
appeared  a forlorn  hope,  by  the  application  of  such  a manure  ; 
and  if  the  wireworm  will  leave  carrots  for  it,  what  will  they 
not  leave  ? Bolling  the  soil  also  acts  as  a check  upon  the  pesf. 
Re])roiluoe<l  from  the  Society’s  'I’ext-Book,  “ Elements  of  Agrieulturc.” 
