Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1914-09-04
GRUBS LIKELY TO CAUSE
UNTOLD LOSSES IN 1915
Department of Agriculture Issues
important Instructions for Pre-
venting the Pest

Washington, D. C. Aug. 31.-The
destructive May beetles, or so-called
June bugs, as was previously pre-
dlcted by the U. S. Department of
Agriculture, were extremely abund-
ant the past spring in northeastern
Iowa, southern Wisconsin, and north
ern Illinois, parts of Minnesota, the
southern part Of Michigan and north
ern Ohio; also in northeastern Penn
sylvania, southeastern New York,
parts of Connecticut and New Jer-
sey. This is indicative of a great
abundance of white grubs in 1915,
and judging from the greater abund-
ance of beetles in most of these
sections this spring than three years
ago, the grub injury will be even
greater than in 1912 when it caused
many millions of dollars damage. 1t
is of greatest Importance, the De-
partment's specialists say that far
mers properly handle their fields
this fall and next spring to prevent
repetition of the enormous losses
occasioned in 1912. Injury can be
reduced to minimum by adopting
the following practices:
In the sections above mentioned
the important economic species have
three year life cycle, that is, bee
ties appearing in the spring of 1914
deposit eggs which hatch about a
month after being laid. The young
grubs feed on roots and decaying
matter, but seldom do damage dur
ing their first year. However, the
following year Q915 in the case of
the destructive brood under discus
s1on) they are larger and feed al
most entirely on living roots, prefer
ably corn, timothy, potatoes, straw
berries, ETC., causing great loss when
abundant. The following spring (1916
they feed more or less but by June
lst or shortly thereafter they make
earthen cells, become semi-dormant
and in fortnight or longer change
to brown pupae, and a month later
to adult beetles, in which condition
they remain in the soil until the
next spring (1917).
The beetles lay their eggs in land
covered with vegetation at the time
OF their flights (May and June), con-
sequently land in small grain, tim
othy, and such crops, which cover
the ground, as we'll as land over
grown with weeds at that time, are
most likely to be infested the fol-
lowing year. 1t is also noticeable
that ground nearest timber will be
heaviest infested, other conditions
being equal, since the parent bee
ties feed on tree foliage and do not
fly great distances if they can find
suitable places to lay their eggs
nearby.
Methods of Preventing the Pest
Fields likely to be infested with
grubs should be thoroughly plowed
between September Is and October
10. The date of blowing will depend
on latitude and the weather condi-
tons for the grubs go down as cold
weather approaches and it is desir-
able to plow the fields just before
they go down when possible. If the
grubs are abundant, hogs should be
allowed to run in the field wherever
this can be done, chickens and tur-
keys are also valuable aids if al
lowed the run of newly ploWed
ground. If it is impracticable to make
use of hogs to rid the infested fields
OF grubs, a deep and thorough disk
ing should follow the blowing, and
in 1915 only crops least susceptible
to injury, such as small grains, buck
wheat, clover, vetch, etc., should be
planted, and by no means should
susceptible crops such as corn, tim
othy, and potatoes be planted. While
fall blowing should be practiced and
is of great value for destroying
grubs, nevertheless it cannot be de-
pended upon solely to eradicate
grubs. Corn fields which were kept
cultivated and free from an under
growth of weeds in May and June of
1914 may, with reasonable safety, be
planted to corn or potatoes in 1915,
although it is advisable to inspect
the field first for grubs. While it is
not ordinarily advisable to follow