AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
41 
Pea—continued. 
S. lineata), and the Spotted Pea Weevil (S. crinita). They 
are about tin. long, elliptical, black, covered with minute 
scales, which are clay-coloured, rosy-greyish, or whitish; 
the beak is short and stout; and the wing-covers bear 
ten lines of minute pits from end to end. S. crinita 
may be known by having short bristles on the wing- 
covers behind, and by its slightly smaller size. These 
insects feed during the day, but are readily overlooked, 
since, when alarmed, they at once fall from the plants 
to the earth. They begin their ravages even in March, 
and may be met with throughout the summer. 
The larvæ of several kinds of moths are destructive 
to Pea-plants, as well as to other garden produce (see 
» Plusia, and Potherb Moths). The larve 
of a small fly (see Phytomyza) burrow between the sur- 
faces of the leaf, and make winding, white tracks, in 
which they change to pupæ, and thereafter into flies; 
but these mines can scarcely be said to weaken the 
plants. 
The roots are liable to be eaten by larvæ that live 
underground (see Noctua and Wireworms). The 
young shoots and branches are occasionally smothered, 
or nearly so, by swarms of Green Fly (see Aphides), 
usually of the species Siphonophora Pisi and Aphis 
Papaveris. 
Bees, but more particularly Humble Bees (which 
see), at times, do considerable harm, by boring holes, 
from which to suck the honey, without effecting the 
fertilisation of the ovules by transferring pollen from 
flower to flower. 
The larvæ of a tiny midge (Cecidomyia Pisi) may, at 
times, be found feeding, in large numbers, in the young 
pods, eating the unripe Peas, and causing the pods 
to be spotted with yellow. The larve are white, and 
reach about zin. in length. They bore out of the pods, 
when full-fed, fall to the ground, and become pupæ 
in the earth. 
The larve of certain beetles, and of two or three 
moths, feed on the seeds in pods approaching ripeness, 
as well as in dried Peas. The more noteworthy are: 
Tychius quinque-punctatus and Bruchus Pisi and B. gra- 
narius among beetles; and Grapholitha pisana, Guen. 
(Endopisa prowimana of Stainton’s “ Manual”), and, to 
aless extent, Endopisa nigricana (of the same “ Manual”) 
among the moths. 
Tychius quinque-punctatus is a Weevil about tin. long, 
elongate-ovate; the beak tapers from base to tip, is 
rather long, and curves downwards; the colour is black, 
covered with coppery-red scales. The lower surface is 
pure white; the thorax is rounded, the thighs rather thick, 
toothed, and black; the rest of the legs, and the antennæ, 
dull red. The beetles appear in late autumn, live through 
the winter, and in spring and early summer lay eggs in 
the young pods of various Leguminose. The larve feed 
in the pods. They are yellowish-white and smooth. 
When full-fed, they fall to the ground, and become 
Pupæ in the soil. 
The Bruchid differ from Weevils in having the beak 
short, broad, and flattened, the antenne straight and 
gradually becoming thicker, the wing-cases shorter than 
the abdomen, and the hind legs long and strong. B. Pisi 
F 
00 
a b Pe 
Fic. 42. BRUCHUS Pısı, showing the Beetle of the natural 
size (a) and enlarged (b), and a Pea (c) in which the hole 
of exit is seen on one side. 
(see Fig. 42) is about in. long, oval, black, with a dense 
coat of silky hairs, which are bright brown above, paler 
beneath; thorax variegated with orange hairs; lateral 
Vol. IIL 
Pea—continued. 
teeth white; wing-cases striated, with some paler 
spots and obscure streaks; tarsi and tibiæ, in parts, and 
four basal joints of antennæ dull red. This beetle has 
been most injurious in Southern Europe. It is believed 
to be a native of North America. Though often im- 
ported with Peas, it has not fully established itself any- 
where in Britain. The beetles pair while the Peas are 
in flower; and the females deposit their eggs in the 
Peas, in which the larvæ live all winter, hollowing them 
out; finally becoming perfect beetles, and boring out 
from them in the ensuing spring and summer. B. gra- 
narius is slightly smaller than B. Pisi, but is otherwise 
much like that species, though with a thinner coat of 
hair. The teeth on the sides of the thorax are less dis- 
tinct; and there are white dots on the back. The wing- 
cases. are sprinkled with whitish hairs, and there is a 
brown stripe near the base of the wing-cases. ‘The first 
pair of legs, and the four basal joints of the antenne, 
are pale red; and the second and third pairs of legs 
are dark throughout, B. granarius is common in Peas, 
and also in pods of Beans, Broom, Furze, and Vetches. 
In habits, it is much like B. Pisi. It has been asserted 
that Peas and Beans containing the larve injure the 
health of persons, and of domestic animals, who partake 
of them, 
The moths hurtful, in the larval state, to Peas are 
included in the great group of Tortricina (which see), 
and are now referred to the genus Grapholitha, though 
Stainton, in his “ Manual,” includes them in the genus 
Endopisa. Of these, the most common is the Pea Moth 
(G. pisana, Guen. = Endopisa proximana of Stainton’s 
Manual). This insect measures about jin. across the 
front wings, which are olive-brown in colour, with a 
row of short, pale yellowish lines along the front 
margin, directed backwards. Near the hind margin is 
a silvery ring, inclosing a spot in which are three or 
four short, black lines. The moths fly in June; they 
lay eggs on the young pods, and the larve bore into 
the pods to reach the seeds. When full-fed, they are 
about jin. long, rather stout, and yellowish, with a 
black head, and brown dots on the rings. They eat 
their way out of the seeds when full-fed, and creep 
underground to become pup». The moths appear in 
the following June. Nearly allied to this species is 
another, G. tenebrosana, Dp. (E. nigricana of Stainton), 
which differs in its darker brown ground-colour, and 
only faintly yellowish tip; in its whitish and pale 
yellow scales, scattered over the wings; and in the spot 
near the hind margin being very little yellower than 
the rest, and inclosing mere dots instead of streaks. 
The larva of this species also feeds in Peas. 
Remedies. These differ with the habits of the various 
insects, and other foes. For measures to get rid of 
Millipedes, see Millipedes and Myriapoda; and see 
also Slugs and Snails for remedies against the 
attacks of those creatures. 
The Pea Weevils (Sitona lineata and S. crinita) may 
be best prevented from doing serious damage by using 
all means to promote the rapid growth of the plants, as 
they are thus protected against the loss of all their 
leaves. Good soil, well prepared and well manured, is 
one of the best means for obtaining a good crop of 
Peas. A dressing of coal ashes along the rows also 
favours growth. It is recommended that Peas should 
follow Cabbages or root-crops. All kinds of shelter for 
the beetles should be abolished. To free the plants 
when attacked, a dressing of lime, or of soot, sprinkled 
on the wet plants, has proved useful; and gas-lime, or 
sand mixed with paraffin, scattered on the soil along 
the rows, would probably help considerably. Harrowing, 
or hoeing the Peas when wet, is also said to be of 
marked benefit. Shaking the plants over tarred canvas, 
or over sheets, from which the beetles can be swept up 
G 
