EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



215 



THE FOUR SPOTTED BEAN-WEEVIL. 

 {Briichus quadrimaculatiis.) 



A small beetle, resembling the common bean-weevil, which works in cow-peas and in 

 beans. 



We must add one more species to the list of pests feeding on stored 

 seeds in Micliigau. Wliile tlie insect has been found in but one locality 

 thus far, it is likely to be more generally distributed as time goes on. 

 The four spotted bean-weevil is well known in the South to work on 

 cow-pea by preference. It will also feed on table bean on occasion. Our 

 experience has been limited to its work in cow-pea. In general appear- 

 ance the beetle is not unlike the common pea- weevil. 

 It is larger than the bean-weevil, but not so large as 

 the pea-weevil. The general color is brown, sometimes 

 chestnut-brown the wing-covers with four dark spots, 

 the rear pair of which often fuse together, mak- 

 ing the entire rear end dark-brown. There are a paii- 

 of light-colored, elongate dots of light gray or white 

 hairs just in front of the bases of the wing-covers on 

 the middle line; in other words, in front of the scutel- 

 lum. The figure, which is from bulletin No. 8, N. S,, of 

 the Bureau of Entomology, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, 

 shows well the appearance of the creature. The bul- 

 letin cited contains an extended account of the crea- 

 ture by Mr. F. H. Chittenden. 



The work of this creature, like that of the bean-wee- 

 vil, is said to commence in the field, and in this way 

 the beetles get into the stored cow-peas, where they continue to breed. 

 In our specimens the rule was one beetle to a pea, although two were 

 not very uncommon. The creamy, almond-shaped eggs were thickly 

 plastered over the skins of the peas. 



A careful search was made of all the cow-peas in the building and 

 all suspected material was fumigated in hopes of killing off the entire 

 tolony before it spread. 



Fig. 13. Four-spotted 

 Bean-weevil, enlarged, after 

 F. H. Chittenden, Bui. 8, 

 N. Ser., Bureau of Ent,U. 

 S. Dept. of Agr 



REMEDIES. 



Fumigation of the seed, during a warm spell, using carbon-bisulphide 

 in the regular way described in bulletin No. 233 of this station, should 

 kill all the active beetles, and a second treatment, after a period of warm 

 weather, should complete the work, if indeed, the first does not suffice. 



