108 



The beetles appear to be very hardy and long-hved. Individ- 

 uals confined in tubes and fed daily have remained alive under 

 observation from a few days to many months. They vary greatly 

 in size but the sexes apparently differ very little. Observations 

 on mating have not been as extensive as desirable, but those made 

 indicate that sexual maturity is not attained until some weeks 

 after emergence as adult beetles, although occasionally eggs are 

 previously extruded by the female. Eggs dropped by unfertilized 

 females failed to hatch. While individuals of varying age, from 

 freshly emerged to fourteen days old, when confined together, 

 evinced no signs of sexual attraction, older individuals, from 

 two weeks to three months old, when confined together in groups 

 of approximately similar age, appeared to be strongly attracted; 

 in most cases mating occured at once, in a few it occurred after 

 the lapse of several days. Oviposition follows mating directly, 

 and the cycles are apparently continuous and without interrup- 

 tion, one generation succeeding another. A summary of the 

 different developmental stages (see Table IV.) indicates the 

 average length to be 78.6 days and allowing fifteen to sixty days 

 for the attainment of sexual maturity and deposition of eggs, a 

 cycle would occupy three to four and one-half months, or ex- 

 pressing it in another way, there could be three generations a 

 year, on an average. A study of the tables discloses that seasonal 

 variations are obscured in the wide range of individual variation. 

 Observations made on the deposition of eggs while giving very 

 irregular results indicate that the rate per individual will not 

 average more than one a day. Table V is an incomplete record 

 of the oviposition of a single female and of the females in a 

 mixed lot of seven individuals. Where mating did not occur, it 

 was noticed that there was a tendency in the female to drop the 

 eggs anywhere, but regularly mated individuals usually deposited 

 the egg securely in the cavity bored with the beak in the fern- 

 stem expressly for its reception. Many cavities examined, how- 

 ever, contained no eggs. 



Methods of Combating the Fern Weevil. 



The methods to be followed in combating the fern weevil will 

 depend upon the circumstances of the infestation. Hand-picking 

 the adults will reduce the number and lessen the possibility of 

 injury, but their secretive habits must be taken into account. The 

 adults can also be poisoned with arsenate of lead applied in 

 powdered or liquid form to the plants on which they are feeding. 

 Where the adults are hiding in the soil at the base of the plant 

 it is often possible to bring them into view by flooding the earth. 

 A prolonged soaking is likely also to smother the larvae and 

 pupae. Usually, however, the only effective remedy for a badly 

 infested stand of ferns is the destruction of the ferns, and this 

 must be thorough and complete. 



