Bulletin 151, Truck and Garden Insects


placed on their backs. They are also called skip jacks" and
" snap beetles."
 There are dozens of species of wireworms in Florida and
at least a half-dozen injure corn. As their habits, life history,
type of soil infested, and control measures differ for each
species, it will be necessary to take up the more important ones
separately.
 SPOTTED CLICK-BEETLE.-The most common wireworm in
Florida corn fields is the young of the spotted click-beetle
(Monocrepidius vespertinus) (fig. 81). This is a thick wire-
worm about 1/2-inch long and is found in both dry and wet land














FIG. 81.-Spotted click-beetle: Adult; pupa; larva; and egg, greatly enlarged.
 (From So. Car. Agr. Exp. Sta.)

but is more destructive in the former. It is also found on
cowpeas.
 The eggs are laid in the summer. They hatch in about 9
days according to Dr. A. F. Conradi and H. C. Edgerton (So.
Car. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bul. 179), and the larvae feed until the
following spring when they pupate in the ground at a depth of
from 3 to 5 inches, remaining there about 2 weeks. The earliest
adults were taken at Gainesville on June 7 by Mr. Dozier. They
are from 1/5 to 1/3 of an inch long.
 Fall plowing and frequent cultivation of the corn will de-
stroy many of these insects, particularly if chickens or other birds
follow the plow. They are seldom found at a greater depth than
4 inches. A few seeds of cotton planted at the same time as the
corn is said to be of benefit. They prefer the cotton to the corn
and while they are feeding on the cotton, the corn has an oppor-
tunity to germinate and get a start.


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