The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-27
AGRICULTURAL.
Wire-WOpns.

The MyriopodS-or at least that portion
of them which are included in the division
Mittepedes-are sometimes erroneous called
'wre-woIms." 1t is not judlcous to have
two very different animals by the same COM
mon nome. 1t only creates confusion, and
more absolutely necessitates the use of scien-
tidc names thing that is repulsve to many
people in reading essays and descriptions in
popular SCIENCE" Wire-worms are gener-
ally understood to be the larvae from a GER
tain species of "click-beetles,'' (Elateridg,)
also called ''skip-jacks" and 'hammer-bugs,"
ard by the Germans "schuel-kaferen" They
are long, cylindrical, tapering moderately at
each end; from whitish to various shades of
brown in color, the cuticle hard and polished
easily slipping through the fingers, or into
the earth or debris wherever it may be found.
They have short, sharp and stout jaws, and
only six feet, two on each of the three anter-
or rings of the body, these rings lever ex-
ceediDg thirteen in number. They often at
tack young corn. wheat, rye, and other
cereal vegetation in the spriBg aud early
summer; also turnips, mangel wurtzels, pota-
toes, and cabbage, as well as garden flowers.
Mr.. Curtis, distinguished English ento-
mologist, describes SEVENTH species of beetles
inhabiting England, which are the parents of
'wire- worms" Their eggs are very minute,
and it is not certainly known whether they
OF young plants they infest.
When the young wire-worm first issues
from the egg it is almost invisible to the
naked eye, but some attain finally to an inch
or more in length; and what is still more
discouragiDg, they live from three to five
years in the larvae or feeding state, SO that
those which have not been DESTROYED this
year are likely to make their appea' auce
again next year, feeding in the meantime on
other vegetation or old wood, and hibernat-
ing during the winter. The ''Meal Worm"
is sometimes confounded with, and called the
wire worm; but the former is larger, round
\ er, smoother, harder and of darker color,
md differs in other respects, especially in
M M having the anal foot, forceps or spines.
mneL winters are very mild the wire worms
n 0ay n uts''1y the wheat during the winter.
s ou nsn9 lahss they do the most mischief,
clay is most free tfoef them Aitbonsh wet
seasons may not destros wire worms. vet il
will prevent the beetles frolA denosltin1 their
eggs. SCOT and lime are sad to Kin the
worms; and it is recommended l, bnrn the
rubbish on summer fallow, as it win kin the
eggs and starve the worms. Refuse lime
from gas works is particularly recommended
as a remedy against these worms. They ar.
also killed by applications of chloride of lime
water, nitrate OF soda or salt, on light sandy
soils. Sliced potatoes, pieces of turnip, cab
bage, beet-root, parsnip, carrot or apple stuck
in the ground will attract them, and then
they may be destroyed by hand picking
which is after all the best remedy. But
robins, thrushes, blackbirds, partridges,
ducks, turkeys, and barnyard fowls will pick
them up in plowed fields. Moles. frogs,
toads and lizards also feed on them: and
lastly, they also become infested by para
site "ichneumon fly" Seeing that they are
so omnivereus in their feeding habits, it
would not be at all surprising to find them
feeding on the tobacco plants. They are
known to be partial to lettuce ia the kitchen
gardens. Be it remembered, particularly,
that when disturbed they will attempt to
escape by crawling into the ground and Sc
creting themselves. The Larvae of Aariates,
Etoter, Athous and Agrypnus are the most
common wire worms of the wheat, oats. bar
ley and rye, but there are several species that
belong to each Of the foregoing genera
Scientific Farmer.