Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-09-15
The White Grub.

It may seem unnecessary to call at
tention to so common an insect as the
white grub. Yet a summer never passes
without complaint from one or another
quarter of the destruction which the
white grub causes. The fact that it is
SO common and so destructive warrants
a consideration of it. 1t is commonly
known that the so-called June bug or
dor bug is the adult or beetle form OF
the white grub. This beetle may be
often seen in summer flying about the
rooms lust at dusk, If the doors and
windows have been left open, and the
presence of few in such place means
that there are larger numbers at no
great distance off upon bushes or trees.
Some have thought the beetle itself per-
fectly harmless, but its presence on
various trees in the nighttime will ac-
count for the dropping of the foliage
which is without apparent cause, as IL
would seem. Yet the damage they do
in this state is but small as compared
with what they may have already done
in the laryal state. The female insect
burrows into the ground soon after pair
ing. when she deposits about fifty eggs
and then dies. The young grub matches
out in about a month or so and does not
attain much size or dc much damage the
first wear. But look lat for it the sec
ond! Woe to the you 10 shoots OF corn,
grass, lettuce, cabbage, Strawberries,
potatoes and the garden flowers, when
it attacks them! Working near the
surface it cuts off the young, tender
shoot and the plant, OF course, withers
and dies Dig down now as soon as the
willing is dis overed and, if it be soon
after the plnrt was cut, the stealthy
enemy vii - found. 1t is then good
time to IS amp out" the plague.
The grub becomes full grown in the
third or fourth year and then has
smooth, greasy or dirty-white appear
ance. 1t changes into beetle some
time in May or June. The question
NAV arise, will it do to haul manure
upon the garden or field containing
such grubs as are sometimes founo
therep This is another insect alto
cether, although not dissimilar in APP
1earance. and can do no harm, as II
feeds wholly on decayed vegetable mat
ter. 1t is the grub known as the muck
worm.
Remedies: The hectic of the de
structive white grub is commonly capt
ured by setting several lanterns II
places where ''they most do congre
rate" and over tub containing water
They are attracted by the light, ant
flying against the lanterns, they ar
thrown into the water beneath AM
drowned The grub is hard insect t.
fight. You don't know where to loo
for him until the cutting process is al
over But wherever and whenever on
is found, kill him on the spot. Nature
too. has favored the farmer by giyin
certain insects and birds to assist hir
in his warfare on the grub. No dout
the much-abused crow is as often !
search of his "grub'' in the corn-fiel
as he is for corn, yet like some remedit
for human ailment, the medicine is
bad as the disease. There are certai
vegetable parasites likewise that pre-
upon the grub, and when such al
found do not destroy them as they ma
be of much assistance later. Anon
the animal enemies of this insect is IL
skunk, which, if allowed, will dlspo
of large numbers. -Springfetd (MaSs
Republican.