The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1917-01-04

the order Of Importance Of the crops
they attack, those damaging corn and
other grain crops probably are next
to the cotton insects. White grubs
are a serious pest not only to corn but
to strawberries, various garden crops,
and grasses. Fifty-seven species of
southeastern birds devour white grubs
or the adult forms known as May
beetles. The nighthawk, chuck-wills-
widow, crow, and screech owl are the
most voracious feeders on the adults,
md the crow, crow blackbird, and
robin on the larvae. Remains of no
fewer than 81 adults have been found
| in a single stomach of the nighthawk,
or bull-bat, bird which has been
much prosecuted but which deserves
The strictest protection.
| Wireworms are especially injurious
to corn, but they damage all other
grains, as well as many garden crops.
These pests are the larvae of click
beetles, of which there are many
species. One hundred and twenty
eight southeastern birds include the
click beetles or wireworms in their
bill of fare. The most efficient de-
stroyers of these pests are the fol-
lowing: Downy and redbellied wood
Ipeckers, nighthawk, kingbird, great
crested fycatcher, crow, blue jay,
crow blackbird, red-winged blackbird,
lark sparrow, tree swallow, purple
martin, house wren, and robin. From
l20 to 40 wireworms have been found
in each of several robin stomachs.
Corn is seriously damaged by bill
bugs also. The larvae bore into the
stem and the adult weevils injure the
leaves. Fifty-five species of birds oc-
curing in the Southeastern States
feed upon these insects. Those con-
suming the largest numbers are the
kildeer, upland plover, nighthawk,
crow, red-headed woodpecker, and
the yellow-headed and crow black
birds. Forty-three kinds of birds feed
upon the army worms, pests destruc-
tive to corn and all small grains.
lightweight southeastern species de-
YOUR cutworms, which are often the
despair of grain growers and garden
ers. Largest numbers of cutworms
have been found in stomachs of the
prairie chicken, bob-white, wood duck,
woodcock, sparrow hawk, yellow-bill-
~a cuckoo, nighthawk, red-headed
woodPecker. crow blackbird, meadow
lark, cardinal, and robin.
No insect enemy of corn and whea,
| "a,
bug; when it is numerous, fields are
blasted as if by fire. 1t is often said
: that the chinch bug has few natural
enemies, but the work of birds, 81
species of which feed upon chinch
bugs, should not be overlooked. Over
100 of these pests have been found in
single stomachs of the bob-white and
meadowlark, and over 200 in one of
brown thrasher. Other birds con-
suming chinch bugs in considerable
numbers are the flicker, the crow, the
barn, tree, and cliff swallows, and the
house wren. The southeastern corn
leaf beetle, pest that has come to be
of considerable Importance in the past
few years, is devourcd by % kinds
of birds. Those taking the largest
numbers are the mocking bird, the
Bewick wren, and the house wren.
| Among other corn insects may be
mentioned the southern corn root
worm Cor spotted cucumber beetle),
eaten by 26 species Of southeastern
birds; beetles of group including the
cane root borer and the carrot beetle,
devoured by 18 species; and the
brown fruit-chafer, by 81. The last
named beetle feeds on apples, pears,
and peaches, as does related insect
known as the southern fig eater.
Fourteen species of birds prey upon
the fig eater, the crow most extens-
lively.
The insect pests of clover and other
forage crops in the Southeastern
States also are sought by many birds
Perhaps more damage is done in the
aggregate by leafhoppers than by 9TH
cr enemies of these crops. Exactly
| 100 species of southeastern birds are
now known to feed on these small but
exceedingly numerous insect pests.
Largest numbers Of leafhoppers have
been found in stomachs of the night
hawk, chimney swift, barn swallow,
and yellow-headed blackbrd. Clover
is attacked by number Of insect
| pests, including the imbricated- -snout
| beetle and the various clover weevils.
The first named is eaten by 20 kinds
of birds, of which the crow, crow
| 5lackbird, and catbird seem most vo-
! racious. The common or large clover
| leaf weevil is the prey Of 25 species
Of birds. The nighthawk, crow, red
headed woodpecker, purple martin,
| and crow blackbrd have the best roc