170 
While their first attentions seem to be given to the smaller roots, 
thev also freely gnaw and penetrate the main root, occasionally perfo¬ 
rating it from side to side, in different directions. I have seen 
roots of strawberries from fields infested by these larva* which 
looked as if they had been riddled with fane shot The gravity of 
their attacks is shown by the fact that frequently the first evidence 
of their presence in a field will be the death of the vines, m patches 
here and there. 
* I r— filial 1 1 JL -L v/ • 
As to the possible differences in the method of attack, and the 
degree of injury done by the different species involved, little can as 
yet be said,'but what is known indicates that all are substantially 
alike in these respects. My own observations. have been made 
almost entirely upon the work of Scelodonta, which I have thus far 
found more abundant than both the others taken together. 
The following letter from. Mr. F. S. Earle, written June 28, of the 
•present year, describes quite clearly the character of the mjuiy done i 
bv Colaspis: “To-day our foreman called my attention to some 
plants that were dying in one of our new-set fields. On examina¬ 
tion, the crowns were found to be bored through, and the roots 
eaten in the same manner as plants attacked by the bcelodonta 
larvae but at first no insects were found about the roots, though 1 
noticed a few light brown beetles (see accompanying specimens) 
feeding on the foliage. Later I was fortunate enough to find larvae, 
-pupae and just transformed beetles in the earth about the roots. In 
one instance all three forms were found under the same plant. 
The larvae form cells in which to pupate, as does bcelodonta. 
On a visit to Union county early in December, Mr. Garman noticed 
that very few plants were living in the field from which he had 
obtained the Paria larvae in July. _ ) J 
From the data collected under the head of life histones of the 
species, it is clear that in a field infested by all _ three of the root- 
worms, these injuries to the roots will be continuous from early 
spring until late autumn, each species supplementing the work of 
the others; that, in fact, the strawberry plant may be the victim of 
one or another of these pests during the whole time ot its active 
growth. 
if 
* 
: 
I 
NATURAL ENEMIES. 
My treatment of this topic must necessarily be extremely brief. j; 
Beyond the fact that f have found an occasional Colaspis or bcelo- ^ 
donta in midsummer in the stomachs of birds, we know nothing j 
whatever of the natural enemies of the root-worms. That they are i 
altogether free from such enemies, is not at all probable, but their 
discovery will require more continuous observation and larger co - I 
lections than I have yet had opportunity to make. Taking in o 
account what is known with regard to the dangers threatening other ; 
subterranean larvae, it is altogether likely that these will be found 
subject to fungus diseases which might m all probability be propa¬ 
gated artificially if they were once understood, and it is in tn 
direction-that observations and experiments will be most useful ana 
promising. 
