The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1916-07-28

CORN AND COTTON wIREwoRM--A, ADULT
BEETLE; B. LARvA ENLARGED.
ment of agriculture has just published
farmers bulletin 725, "Wireworms De-
structive to Cereal and Forage Crops"
by ]. A. Hyslop.
The wheat wireworm Of the north
east and middle west Is pale yellow,
cylindrical and shiny. When full
grown it Is about one inch in length
and about as thick as the lead in a
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, however. the insects gather In
the drill rows or hills and destroy the
seed or eat off the roots Of the plants
which sprout. In this way the crop
often is absolutely destroyed.
To control the wheat wireworm land
intended for corn should be plowed
Immediately after the first cutting Of
hay, usually early in July. Through
out the remainder Of the summer this
land should be cultivated deeply. Bad
~ infested land in corn should also
be deeply cultivated even at the risk
of slightly root pruning the corn. As
soon as the crop is removed the field
should be very thoroughly titled be-
fore sowing to wheat. Wheat fields
that are not seeded to other crops
should be plowed as soon as the wheat
Is harvested. This kills the worms by
destroying their food supply and pre-
venting proper Information. Where cir.
cumstances permit. interposing be.
tween 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 damage cereal and
forage crops in the middle Atlantic
states, the New England states and
the Mississippi valley. They are red
dish brown in color, about one anG
one-fourth inches long. cylindrical IL
shape and have three slight lobes Of
projections on the tail. These insect.
spend a considerably longer time IL
some cases they have been known tt
live in the ground as long as sixyyears
On the other hand, they are almos
exclusively confined to poorly drainet
and heavy soils. For this reason
heavy lining and thorough tile drain
ing viii undoubtedly prove beneficial
In their control. The thorough cult
walton of waste land, especially alonl
drainage bitches and creeks during
midsummer, and the deep cultivation
Of crops and fallow land are also rec
J commended.
Meadow wireworms attack corn. pc
tatoes. onions. cabbage, radishes, tut
nips. horseradish. spinach. sugar beet
and alfalfa. In the northwest they ar
most destructive on irrigated lands an
In the east on poorly drained area.
They look very much like the dry Ian
wireworm, but can be easily distir
guished from other varieties by thei
forked tails. They do not usually a
tack beans or peas. and the plantin
Of these crops before seeding to cor
would therefore assist in controllin
the pest. The thorough tile drainin
Of infested fields in eastern areas an
the heavy lining Of the land at th
rate Of about two tons to the acre, T.
gether with deep cultivation durin
July and August are other measure
that specialists recommend for the
control
] The dry land wireworm and the b