Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-25
Farm and Household.


Nhg
In our issue of Sept we published an ar
ticle on the Dor Cor May beetle describing
the habits and characteristics Of the insect,
and speaking of the ravages caused by its
larva in grass lands, corn and potato fields,
etc So great damage has been done by the
white grubs (the product OF the eggs of the
Dor beetle) in this vicinity the past season,
that we are glad to supplement that article
by the following from the pen Of the Ogricul-
tural editor of the Weekly Sun, who is q COM
potent authority in chronological matters:
KILLING MAY BEETLES.
The May beetles are well known insects of
very destructive habits. There are something
like fifty or more species inhabiting the
United States, all infesting vegetation in both
their larval and perfect state. The eggs are
deposited either on the stems of small plants
near the roots, or directly in the ground,
where they hatch, and the young grubs bur
row into the soil, feeding upon the roots Of
various kinds of cultivated and wild plants.
The species most common in the Eastern
States are the large brown May beetle (Ldch-
fOsternd ftscd) andthe small hairy H. triStes)
The first, however is the most destructive.
It remains in the larval or grub state three
years, feeding the while on the roots of
nlants and during this time it is capable Of
doing considerable damage to crops, and es-
pecially to meadows and lawns. The larvm,
when fully grown, are about an inch in diam
eter, with a smooth brownish head, and strong
mandibles or jaws. They are generally known
among farmers and gardeners under the name
of white grubs" In certain localities and
seasons these grubs become so abundant in
meadows as to entirely destroy the grass by
eating of its roots, and the entire dead turf
can be readily rolled up like blanket, hav-
ing been cut loose from the lower roots by
these pests. We hear that many of the mead
ows and lawns in the suburbs of Boston and
Cambridge are being destroyed this season by
white grubs and nurserymen report severe
losses from the destruction of seeding trees,
the roots of which have been eaten by the
grubs.
We have frequently warned our readers
against planting strawberry and other small
fruits upon land which had recently been
used as a meadow forif it contains any consid-
cradle number of white grubs, the ploughing
under of the sod will not kill them but their
natural supply of food being cut off in de-
stroying the grass roots, they will quickly at
tack those of other plants set out in the same
soil. White grubs are especially fond of the
roots of strawberries, and many thousands of
these plants are destroyed annually by them.
L
use only land which has been in cultivation
for two or three years previous, and from
which the grubs have escaped by being trans
formed into beetles. OF course, an old mead
ow or pasture when broken up and the sod
well rotted is usually in first rate condition
for a nursery or the reception of strawberry
and other small plants and we would much
prefer such land for the purposes named than
that which had been constantly under the
plough, provided it was not infested with
white grubs or other insects. As the May
beetles do not seek cultivated fields in which
to lay their eggs, the farmer can always avoid
losses by them when setting out strawberries
and other plants by selecting field that has
been two or three years under the plough, OIL
long enough to have permitted all the white
grubs to change into beetles. A close observ.
er can always tell whether his meadows are
infested by May beetles by the dead clumps
or patches of grass and when he sees these
indications it is well to break up and cultivate
the land for q year or two in corn, or SOW
in grain before seeding down again Many
farmer has seen his strawberry plants, seed
ling forest trees, beans and other simla
plants wither and die without knowing the
cause but had he dug down to the roots
fat white grub might have been found nea
by.
The greater part of our noxious insects ar
only injurious to vegetation in one of thei
stages, either as larva or image; but the Ma.
beetles feed as grubs ON the roots and whel
they become beetles attack the leaves of tree
and other plants. They sometimes appear il
countless numbers, attacking and stripping
the leaves from fruit and forest trees. Thi
is mainly done at night, as they are nocturna
in their habits, remaining quiet during tn
day but becoming very active after dark con
aaunpOtlV IT Of what OtlprwlS
would be
ITS NATURAL ENEMIES.
Among these are the crow Llackbird, an
several other of our larger wild birds, as we
as domestic fowls which eat the May beet
with evident relish But with all these help
ers the farmer and gardener frequently fin
the beetles and their grubs far too numerous
and are compelled, or at least should endeay
or to lessen their numbers by artificial means
If all the residents of a town or neighborhoo
would unite in making war upon these pest
losses from their depredatons could be yer
materially lessened, if not entirely avoided.
MAY BEETLE TRAPS.
Although this insect naturally prefers darl
ness to light for its work, it is attracted b
artificial light; and fire or lamp at nigl
during the early part of summer, if paced ]
the open air or i'll n room with open window
or doors, is certain to be visited by great,
or less number of May beetles. Taking az
vantage of this fondness for light, it
quite an easy matter to make traps for catcl
ing large numbers of the beetles. An exec
lent trap can be made by saving a barr
or cask through the middle, filling the tw
halves nearly full of water, and placing the1
in the open air near some building whel
they will be protected from draught of ali
only one of the tubs need be used unlei
more are wanted. Make float a fo
square, of some light dry wood or put
standard of wood in the centre of the tut
and set lamp upon it at night and the ira
is ready for use. The beetles being attracte
to the light, strike the lamp and fall into IL
water. To prevent any from crawling out L
the sides of the tub, it is only necessary
pour a little oil into the water this w
spread thinly over the surface, and each be
tie falling in will become coated with II, NJ
the breathing pores which are situated ON Il
body, instead of the head, as in higher III
mails, will be closed. Another good trap q
he made by coating the inside of a barrel
large cask with tar, and placing light,
lamp inside of it. These traps are inoxpr
sive, easily constructed, and if placed aba
the garden and orchard during the season
which May beetles abound. would help
keep this pest in check.
BENzINE FOR MoTHs--A set Of furnitu
that seemed to be alive with the larye, fro
the month it came new, aud from which i'm
dreds of these pests had been picked n