262 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



The cliestnut weevil (B. rectii.'i) deposits most of its eggs a short time 

 previous to the dropping of the nuts from the trees. The shellbark is the only 

 native hickory that is attacked extensively by the hickorynut weevil (B. 

 carycE) in West Virginia, and this variety is seldom injured more than 20 per 

 cent. Other varieties, such as the pignut and mockeruut are often destroyed 

 to the extent of 50 to 75 per cent of the crop. Injury by the hazelnut weevil 

 {B, ohtii.su.s) varies from 5 per cent to one-half the crop. The common acorn 

 weevil (B. fjiiercus) is the largest of the weevils attacking acorns. The mot- 

 tled acorn weevil (B. tuisicii.s) was found to be the least common of all the 

 acorn infesting weevils, wliile the straight snout acorn weevil (B. orthorjin- 

 cJius) has been restricted to biennial oaks. The sooty acorn weevil (B. bacilli), 

 the confused acorn weevil (B. cotifusor), and the spotted acorn weevil 

 (B. pardaliis) are also considered. 



Two s])e(ies of curculio attaclc walnuts and hickorynuts, often causing a 

 heavy drop of the innnature nuts. These are the walnut curculio {Conotraclie- 

 lus juglaiiilis) and the hickory curculio (C. affinis). Two acorn cui'culios, the 

 larger acorn curculio (C. iiaso) and the smaller acorn curculio (C. jjosticaliifi) 

 are also considered. 



A braeon parasite (TJrosigdJjilnifi arnifitus) is one of the most important 

 insect enemies of these beetles. A smaller braeon parasite, known as .S /f/ »//*/(». s" 

 curciilioiiis was reared in abundance from the larvte of the hickorynut cur- 

 culio and in lesser numbers from those of the walnut curculio. Other natural 

 enemies mentioned are three species of ants {Lasius alictia, Aplnenogaster 

 aquia, and Solenopsia debilis), 2 parasitic flies (Metadexia hasaJis and Myo- 

 phasia cenea), the larva of a click-beetle, and the nymph of Podisus nidcini- 

 ventris. The short tailed shrew is considered as perhaps the most important 

 enemy. 



While these pests are difficult to deal with, it is said that very satisfactory 

 results are l)eing obtained by a few persons who are producing and handling 

 nuts on a large scale. Remedial measures mentioned are fumigation of the 

 nuts with carbon bisulphid, destruction of infested nuts, cultivation of the soil 

 about nut trees, and trapping the beetles by hanging twigs covered with dead 

 leaves to the branches and on the body of the tree about the time the beetles 

 are most abundant. 



Some insects injurious to truck crops. The life history and control of 

 the hop flea-beetle, W. B. Parkek (U. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Ent. Bui. 82, pt. .',, 

 pp. 33-^s, pis. 2, figs. 10). — This is a report of investigations of the hoj) flea- 

 beetle (I'siflliodcs piinctuluta), conducted in British Columbia during 1909. A 

 general account of this pest including the results of investigations made by H. J, 

 Quayle in 1908 have been previously noted (E. S. R., 21. p. 154). 



As beetles confined in cylinders oviposit from li to 2 in, below the surface 

 of the soil and eggs were also found in the field about li in. below the sur- 

 face, it is concluded that this is about the average position in which they are 

 deposited. Eggs buried in moist soil in the laboratory and in the hopyard 

 hatched in from 19 to 22 days. The length of the larval life was found to be 

 about 35 days. " This insect does not form a distinct pupal cell, as is the case 

 with some other coleopterous larvae, but when full-gi'own ceases to feed, con- 

 tracts greatly in length, and enters a long somnus, the prepupnl stage. The 

 larva remains in this stage from 11 to 14 days, and then transforms to a 

 true pupa with free appendages." 



The true pupal stage lasts on the average 16i days. "After the adult has 

 emerged from the pupal state, between 12 and 24 hours are required for col- 

 oring and, perhaps, as much longer for it to work its way out of the soil. 

 Beetles which appeared to be not over 4 days old were found in copula and, 



