Fig.4!. 



Fig. 2 



Fig. 2. — PcPA Magnified. 

 Fig. 1. — Common Curculio Magnified. 



Fig. 2. Pupa in the progress of transformation, 

 showing the incipient wings, wing covers, legs and 

 mandibles turned under the throat. 



Fig. 3. Head and mandibles as used in biting the 

 fruit to deposit the ova, showing the mandibles open. 



Fig. 4. Curculio of the natural size. 



In the first place, I filled a glass tumbler about half full of earth; on this I placed one 

 nectarine and two Chickasaw plums, which had been bitten by the curculio, and tied a 

 piece of paper over the top closely. The plums and nectarine decayed or rotted in the 

 course of a few days, when the larvae left them, and were seen moving about on the top 

 of the earth for a few hours, and then disappeared. The next day, on examination, I 

 found them deposited at the bottom of the tumbler, where they had excavated a small ca- 

 vity in the earth about the size of a pea. In this situation I watched them from day to 

 day, by looking through the bottom of the tumbler, where I could perceive them wrig- 

 gling about. In about thirty days they began to disappear, and in a day or two after I 

 opened the tumbler, and turned out the earth on a paper, and picked up thirteen lively 

 curculiosi Some of them had assumed the perfect size and color of those found upon the 

 trees, whilst some others, of a more recent date or change, were of a reddish or mahogany 

 color — whilst one of them was in a state or process of change, from a larvse to a perfect 

 curculio. Enclosed, I send you some of them in their three different stages, also some 

 magnified drawings taken at the time. I immediately had a hole dug beneath a plum tree 

 in the orchard, and at the depth of about a foot, found his excellency alive, and in fine 

 condition for continuing his depredations. 



I was somewhat surprised at the manner of transformation from the larvae to the per- 

 fect insect. I had expected it to first have entered the pupa state, but such is not the 

 case, as you will perceive on examining specimen No. 3, if it reaches you in good order. 

 The legs, wings, and probocis, or more properly mandibles, appear to grow out from the 

 larvae, while the body contracts to the size of the perfect insect, no skin or shell is form- 

 ed or cast off in the course of the change. I trust this experiment will satisfy all as to 

 the manner of its propagation, as well as to the time. 



On enclosing the before mentioned fruits, I did not count the number of punctures on 

 them, so as to ascertain how many eggs had been deposited in each puncture; and that 

 you may form an opinion of their numbers and industry here, I will observe that I have 

 seen nectarines scarified in at least fifty places on one nectarine. This, in connection with 

 the fact, that probably several broods or generations are propagated in every season, will 

 give you an idea of their rapid increase, and consequent ravages. I shall preserve some 

 of the insects during the coming winter, by placing them in earth in bottles, and ascer- 

 hethcr any further changes take place, either as to size or habits. 

 11 now proceed with a history of my experimental remedies, but will remark 



