The Curculio. 31 



apparently to allow complete hardening of the body wall and append- 

 ages. Then they seek the food plants, and, so far as the evidence at 

 hand indicates, spend the rest of the season in eating and sleeping." 



Upon the emergence of the fully matured beetles they fed freely 

 upon the api)le, the plum, and some other fruits and it is during this 

 period of their growth that the greatest harm to the apple is done. As 

 the fall temperature lowers, the beetles become less and less active, 

 finally all leave the trees and seek places of hibernation. The place 

 most commonly chosen for hibernation is in or near the ground, under 

 grass or such other rubbish as may be present. It also seems probable 

 that many of the beetles hibernate in the woods, as iirchards in close 

 proximity to wood lands suffer most in the rows nearest the woods. 

 When orchards are kept free from weeds and grass, good shelter for 

 hibernating insects is not afforded. They are naturally driven to seek 

 shelter elsewhere and woods afford ample opportunity to secure 

 shelter. 



APPLE CURCULIO. ■ 



The apple curculio has been known as Injurious for a much shorter 

 period than has the plum curculio, and it has never been so serious a 

 menace to the fruit crops, never has developed the interest or received 

 the attention that has been accorded to the plum curculio. 



"The main facts in the life history of the apple curculio are well 

 established, and were first clearly set forth by Riley in his Third Mis- 

 souri Report in 1871. Oviposition begins in the spring, while the fruits 

 are quite small. The larvae feed on the pulp, pupate in the cavity 

 excavated, and emerge from the fruit as perfect beetles. This new 

 generation of beetles, for the most part, hides away in secure places 

 until late fall, then hibernates until time for ovipositing in the spring. 



The oviposition of eggs occurs from the early days of May until 

 about the middle of July, the average number of eggs for each female, 

 is 65, 



"Comparing the damage done by the two curculios under consider- 

 ation it is quite plain that for northern and central Illinois, at least, 

 much the greater injury is done by the plum curculio. This is due to 

 numerical superiority, to longer period of work, and to the more de- 

 structive character of the puncture made. The greatest damage done 

 to apples by the plum curculio is done after all injurious work by the 

 apple curculio has ceased." 



CULTIVATION AS A MEANS OF REPRESSION. 



"Superficial tillage of the surface soil can be recommended as an 

 effective method of attacking curculio. This tillage should be carried 

 on continuously or at frequent intervals for a period of from thirty to 



