The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-07
ARE
DESTRUCTIVE
PESTS
Different Control Measures
Recommended by Experts
for Different Special.

WASHINGTON, May 6-True
wireworms are reckoned by special
lists in the United States Department
OF Agriculture as among the twelve
worst pests to wheat and oats. They
attack many other crops as we'll, how
ever, notably potatoes and sugar
beets. and are considered one of the
two most difficult groups of insects
to control. To combat them success
fully 1t Is essential that the farmer
should be able to recognize the vari-
GUS species and to distinguish them
from other insects of somewhat sim
liar appearance. To assist him In
doing so the department of agricul-
ture has just published Farmers
Bulletin 1875, "Wireworms Destruc-
tive to Cereal and Forage Crops" by
]. A. Hyslop.
Wireworms are the young or worm
stage Of several kinds OF hard-shelled
beetles, popularity known as click
beetles" skipping jacks, snap
ping Beetles" etc. In various parts
of the country the name is incor-
rectly applied to thousand leggers, {"
webworms and other insects. The
true wireworms, though differing
greatly in size according to kind, are
always elongated, more or less
clyndicral, and with n higly polished
skin. They have three pairs of short
legs near the head end OF the body
and are usually yellow or reddish
brown in. color. Several of the most
destructive varieties are described in
the bulletin already mentioned. One
or more of these are found in prac-
tically every part of the United
States and much Of the reseeding and
replanting that farmers have to do
is made necessary by their rayages.
As each variety has its own habits,
different methods, of control must be
used for the different groups.
Wheat Wireworm.
This wireworm is pale yellow,
cylindrical and shiny. When full
grown 1t is about one inch in length
and about as thick as the lead in q
pencil. 1t can be readily recognized
by the two dark spots near the base
of the tail. Normally It feeds upon
grass roots and produces no disturb
ance in the meadows. When the sod
is broken for corn, however, the in
sects gather in the drill rows or hills
and destroy the seed or eat off the
roots of the plant which sprout. In
this way the crop often is absolutely
destroyed. It happens frequently,
however. that during the first year
the worms feed upon the downturn
ed sod and do not do their greatest
harm to cultivated crop until the sec
ond season. They require three years
to turn into beetles. In addition to
wheat this variety of wireworm feeds
upon corn. potato tuber. carrots, tur-
nips and the underground stems of
string beans, cucumbers and cab
bage.
To control the wheat wireworm
land intended for corn should be
plowed Immediately after the first
cutting of hay. usually early in July.
Throughout the remainder Of the
summer this land should be culti-
waited even at the risk OF slightly root
pruning the corn. As soon as the
crop is removed the field should be
very thoroughly tiled before sowing
to wheat. Wheat fields that are
seeded to other crops should be
plowed as soon as the wheat Is har-
vested. This kills the worms by de-
stroying their food supply and pre-
venting proper Information. Where
circumstances permit. intarposing
between sod and corn such crops as
field peas and buckwheat. which are
not severely attacked by wireworms.
will materially reduce the number of
worms in the soil when corn is
planted.
! Corn Wireworms.
Corn wireworms damage cereal
and forage crops in the Middle At
lantic states, the New England states