688 Gkasses and Leguminous Chops ix New York 



eloaigate) oval eggs about one^tweaity-liftli inch in lengtli into the 

 clover stems; occasionally they are placed between the stems at 

 the base of the plant. A female is capable of laying forty or 

 more eggs. The eggs hatch in about four weeks and the young 

 gTubs spend the winter in rubbish about the base of the plants. 

 Rarely the insect spends the winter in the egg stage and some- 

 times as a beetle, but these beetles are so weakened by spring that 

 they die without laying eggs. There is but one generation 

 annually. 



Control. Fortunately the clover leaf-weevil is in large measure 

 held in cheek by a parasitic fungus which attacks the young- 

 larvae and kills them in great numbers. iSTo practicable method 

 of artificial control has been devised. 



THE LESSER CLOVER LEAF-WEEVIL 



Sitona flavescens Marsham 



The destructive work of the clover leaf -weevil last treated is 

 augmented by a related species of similar habits. This lesser 



clover leaf - weevil occurs abundantly 

 throughout New York State where it 

 attacks red clover and alsike. It is said 

 to have a special fondness for white clover. 

 The insect passes the winter in the larval 

 state, either in the stems close to the 

 crown or in the roots. Most of the grubs 

 become only partially grown in the fall 



Fig. 661. Clover Leaves gj^^j complete their growth in the spring. 

 Showing the Character- ^ ", „ . . 



isTic Injury of the Les- The mature larva is one-fifth inch m 

 SER Clover Leaf-Weevil j^^ j^ yellowish white in color ; the 



[.Redrawn after Folsom) o ? ./ ' ^ ^ 



head is yellowish brown with whitish 

 lines. The larvae become full-grown during the latter part 

 of May and transform to delicate, pale yellowish pupae in 

 small earthen cells in the ground near the base of the plant. 

 The beetles emerge in from two to three weeks but do not 

 lay their eggs until September. The adult insect is a small 

 dark brown or rustv brown snout-beetle, sliiyhtlv over one-fifth 

 inch in length. In feeding, the beetle eats out a semi-circular 

 area either on the edge of the unopened leaflet or on the midrib ; 

 when the leaf unfolds the injury appears either as a circular hole 



