304 
Garden Work 
out, and in springing back into position quickly, sends the 
beetle up into the air. If not righted the first time, this 
action is repeated until it is successful. The female lays 
her eggs in the soil near the roots of plants, and in a 
short time the larvae are hatched. These are known as 
Wireworms from their wire-like appearance and hardness. 
The larvae of Wire- 
worms live for three, 
four, or even five 
years in the ground. 
Thus they are found 
in different stages of 
development at any 
season of the year. 
During severe frosts 
they work their way 
deeper into the soil, 
but when the spring or 
summer comes they 
rise near the surface, 
where they feed on 
the roots of many plants. The great amount of damage 
which they are able to do is best seen in a field of wheat, 
where they cause enormous havoc. In the garden they 
are most destructive. A good way to trap many of these 
harmful creatures is to place slices of potatoes a little way 
below the surface of the ground, inserting sticks to mark 
the places where the slices are placed. These should be 
taken up in the morning and the Wireworms destroyed. 
As many as twenty-four Wireworms have been caught in 
a single spot in one night by this method. Birds are fond 
i and 2, Variety of Click-beetle (nat. size and magni- 
fied). 3 and 4, Another variety (nat. size and magnified). 
S and 6, Third variety (nat. size and magnified). 7, Larva 
of 5. 8 and 9, Larva of 2 (nat. size and magnified). 
10 and 11, Pupa of wireworm (nat. size and magnified). 
