STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 203 



The principal differences between this species and the phim-curculio 

 are as follows : The latter is streaked and spotted with black and white, 

 and has two shinning black humps or tubercles on the wing-cases, while 

 the gouger is clay or ochre yellow in front, and a dull lead or clay color 

 behind, and without any tubercles. 



The curculio cuts a crescent slit wherever it deposits an egg, while 

 the gouger bores a round hole ; the larva of the former resides in the 

 fleshy part of the fruit, while the latter resides in the kernel ; the curculio 

 leaves the fruit and goes into the ground to undergo its transformations, 

 while the latter remains in the fruit ; the curculio is two-brooded annually, 

 while the gouger is, probabh', single-brooded ; the fruit stung by the cur- 

 culio usually falls prematurely, while that infested by the gouger remains 

 on the tree, but ripens prematurely. 



Remedies. — The striking similarity in many respects between this 

 species and the apple-curculio, with which it is congeneric, will be noticed 

 from the particulars here given, hence any remedy applicable to one is 

 likely to be applicable to the other. Thus far nothing feasible has been 

 suggested, unless it be jarring the trees to bring down the prematurely 

 ripened fruit, which may then be gathered and destroyed. I am not 

 aware that the experiment has been tried, hence it is uncertain whether 

 this will prove of any practical value. 



Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst. Plum-curculio. 



This is undoubtedly the most destructive weevil with which the orch- 

 ardists have to contend ; in fact, its operations have become so extensive 

 that the raising of plums has been almost abandoned in some sections of 

 the country. It is of a dark brown color, variegated with spots of white, 

 ochre yellow and black; the snout is rather longer than the thorax; the sur- 

 face of the latter is uneven ; the wing-cases have two shining black humps 

 or tubercles on them, one on each case about the middle, close to the 

 suture ; behind these is a broad band of dull yellow and white ; each thigh 

 has two little teeth on the under side. It varies in length from a little over 

 one-eighth to one-fifth of an inch. When disturbed, it has the habit of 

 drawing up its legs and bending its snout under its breast, when it is 

 easily mistaken for a knot or wart on a limb, or fragment of bark. 



This species has been so long and so well known it would seem no 

 part of its history could be left in doubt, yet there are points in regard to 

 which there still appears to be some difference of opinion. I shall, there- 

 fore, first give its history as far as it appears to be universally agreed upon, 

 and then mention the disputed points. 



The beetles usually come forth from their winter quarters in May and 

 June, some appearing in southern parts of the State as early as April, and 

 from that time on during the season as late as June, according to the lati- 

 tude and the season. The female, when about to deposit her eggs, makes 

 a minute cut with the jaws at the tip of her snout, and thrusting her snout 

 into this enlarges it sufficiently for the reception of an egg; then turning 

 round she drops an egg into the opening, which she afterwards thrusts to 

 the bottom of the cut with her snout ; then cuts the crescent around one 



