Packard ] 
INSECTS OF THE GARDEN. 
31 
when the temperature of the earth was ten degrees above 
.zero (Centigrade) ; as soon as the snow melted they gradu¬ 
ally rose towards the surface.” 
The mischief done by the grub of the May beetle is at 
times almost incalculable. In lawns and grass lands it eats 
the roots of grass. Dr. Harris, in his well known Treatise, 
says that “ in many places the turf may be turned up like a 
carpet in consequence of the destruction of the roots.” We 
have lately ascertained that it seriously damages strawberry 
plants, being undoubtedly introduced in the manure. It eats 
the main roots, and so large and voracious is this worm that 
the roots of one plant must form a light meal for them, and 
a dozen or so of the worms would be enough to ruin a small 
bed of strawberry plants. It is obvious, 
then, that if we observe a plant to wilt and 
suddenly die, the “white worm” is at the 
roots. It should be dug up, and crushed be¬ 
neath the foot’. It also eats, in a still more 
summary manner, young squash plants, 
when they have thrown out three or four 
leaves, so that gardeners have been obliged 
to plant the seed over once or twice. 
As to remedies against this grub, the 
careful gardener will in the first place de- Caiosonm caiidum. 
stroy every grub turned up by the plough or spade. When 
the top dressing is spread over the bed, he would do well to 
examine it carefully for these conspicuous worms. When a 
vine is seen to die down suddenly in summer he must then dig 
around the roots and search for the aggressor. It is better 
to spend much time and money for two or three years in suc¬ 
cession in endeavoring to exterminate these grubs than to 
yield passively to the scourge. It is well known that crows 
and small birds feed upon them in corn fields. Skunks and 
moles are efficient aids in killing both grubs and beetles, and 
the larger carnivorous beetles, such as the Calosoma (Fig. 
31 
