Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-10-10
FIGHT MAY BEETLE
Expected to Be Unusually Alum.
dant in 1914.
Deep Flowing VIII Do Much to Con
troll Common White Grubs Of
This Bug Which Attacks
Growing Crops.

WaGhlngtOn.-A very CouoSi'0N
estimate places the damage to corn
timothy and potatoes In Iowa, Wiscon'
sin and Illinois done by the common
white grubs In 1912 at not less than
$7,0O0,00O. This estimate resulted
from q personal survey by John 4
Davis, scientific assistant, bureau OF
entomology, whose interesting pam.
phlet on the Common White Grub
was recently issued as Farmers bui.
letin No. SAB by the department OF
Agriculture.
The damage to the same crops IN
other infested areas cannot be ngureo
at less than $5,0O0,000. which brings
the total loss, exclusive OF straWoer'
ries, nursery stock. lawns and mis-
cellaneous crops to not less than $l2,'
10000 for one year. Injury was sue-
tanned in almost every section OF the
country north OF the Ohio river from
the Atlantic ocean to South Dakota.
Observations seem to make 1t quite
certain that in the northern states the
total life cycle of this injurious spe-
cies is three years. May beetles were
unusually abundant In 1908 and lSll
and the grubs caused the greatest
damage in 1899 and 1912.
There is a general belief, which Is
erroneous, that the common white
grubs of the field and the white grubs
found In manure heaps and rotten logs
are identical The grubs OF May
beetles are not known to breed In ref
use Of any kind.
The grub of the southern green June
beetle is also commonly mistaken for
the more serious pest. The grub OF
the June beetle seems to prefer fert1-
lized soils and may also be distln'
guished from the true white grub by
it's peculiar method Of crawling on Its
back.
Farmers in the regions infested last
year will find 1t of special value to
do deep blowing this fall. Ordinarily
the best time to pillow is between o.
tober l and October Is. The grubs
will at this time have changed to
pupae and adult beetles. These pass
the winter in cells. and If the cells are
disturbed their inhabitants will be de-
stroyed.
It Is important to remember that
blowing should not be delayed until
cold weather, for then the grubs will
have gone down to their winter quar-
tiers beyond the reach Of the pillow.
An infested field may be thoroughly
freed from grubs by pasturing it with
hogs, and this method should be fol-
lowed wherever possible. Hogs will
root to q depth of foot or more IN
search Of grubs. For infested lawns
hogs are efficacious, but are not usu-
ally desirable, as they tear up the sod.
Domestic fowls-turkeys in partic-
ular-are preferable for lawns, and If
given the run Of infested fields when
the land is being plowed will destray
large numbers Of grubs. Pasturing Of
hogs to root out these grubs should
not be delayed later than the middle
of October nor practiced earlier than
April or May, since In winter the grubs
are probably too deep in the ground
to be reached.
The May beetles usually deposit
their eggs in fields Of grass, timothy
and small grains. especially in the W.
cinity Of timber where they feed. The
crops planted In these fields the year
following a season of beetles should
be those least susceptible to grub in
jury. Such crops are small grains,
buckwheat, clover, alfalfa and peas.
There is no authentic record Of the
grub attacking these crops. In 1914
corn and potatoes should be planted,
as this will be In general season for
beetles rather than grubs. These
should be kept thoroughly cultivated
during the flight of the beetles MAY
and June). Land which is planted to
small grains. timothy and other crops,
which cover the ground with vegeta-
ton at this time should be planted in
fields farthest from trees.
Liberal applications of commercial
fertilizer will assist grass in overcom-
ing grubs II there are not too many
Of them. When a lawn is badly in
tested the sod should be removed and
the grubs gathered by hand, after
which fall blowing will probably prove
satisfactory. In Europe cheap labor
is often employed to gather grhbs
after the plow, especially where the
grubs are numerous.