Entomological Notes. 299 



found at such times, in quite large numbers, concealed under 

 boards, sticks or shingles placed on the ground under the tree3 

 for that purpose, but later in the season when the weather becomes 

 warm they remain all day concealed on the trees. This peculiarity 

 can be used to good advantage for their destruction in many 

 cases, but will not enable us to exterminate them, as some claim, 

 for large numbers of the beetles do not leave their winter quarters 

 uotil the weather will permit them to remain night and day on 

 the trees. 



The extreme timidity of the beetle is another peculiarity which 

 can be taken advantage of, in fact is used largely for its destruc- 

 tion. When disturbed suddenly on the trees, it has the habit of 

 dropping to the ground and feigning death, and the plan the most 

 used to kill them is to place sheets stretched on a frame under the 

 trees, and then by giving the tree a sudden, sharp blow, cause 

 them to drop on the sheets, when they are readily killed. For 

 some time after falling they will remain perfectly quiet, hoping to 

 escape notice. Their size, dark color and irregular form would 

 enable them to practice this deception completely, when this habit 

 is not known or a sharp look-out kept. Early in the morning is 

 regarded as the best time to jar the trees by most, but some who 

 have tried both think that toward evening is better. During the 

 warmer part of the day they fly more readily, and are not usually 

 found on the trees in as large numbers. 



Another point favorable for attack is found in the fact that the 

 larva3 do not leave the fruit until some little time after it drops 

 from the tree, and if the fruit that has been stung were picked 

 from the tree, or picked up from the ground soon after it falls, and 

 destroyed, the race would be well nigh exterminated, so that a 

 crop might be obtained the next and a number of following seasons. 

 Some have advised making light floors of boards or cement un- 

 der the trees, and thus prevent the worms from going into the 

 ground, and as they cannot travel they must soon perish. An- 

 other way to accomplish the same object is to arrange a screen of 

 cloth or boards so that when the fruit drops it will roll into a 

 tight barrel, box or tub. Where the number of trees is small 

 and the numbers of the Curculio has been so reduced that but a 



