The Quince Curculio. 



385 



exit througli the telltale "worm hole." If the fruit falls to the 

 ground before the grub is full grown, it continues feeding in the fallen 

 fruit until full-fed or the fruit rots. In one instance, it is reported 

 that one-twentieth of the infested fruit dropped, the grubs continuing 

 therein until the fruit decayed. As many as six of these grubs have 

 been found infesting a single quince. 



The grubs doubtless drop to the ground upon leaving the fruit 

 which remains on the tree, and they soon burrow into the soil for a 

 distance of from one to three inches; those grubs which mature in the 



194.— A ' wormy " quince cut open. 



fallen fruit, also leave it and enter the soil. During normal seasons, 

 some of the grubs doubtless leave the fruit in August; but often many 

 of them are still in the fruit when it is picked, and, upon emerging, 

 find themselves in the packing-case or barrel. In 1897, some of them 

 were still in the fruit on the trees on October 4. Thus, the grubs 

 may be found in the fruits at any time after July, and sometimes even 

 in June. However, there is but one brood of the grubs in a season 

 or year ; for it matters not if some of them get full grown and enter 

 the soil early in August, because these, as well as those which do not 

 leave the fruit until October, all remain unchanged in the soil through- 



