60 THE EEPOET OF THE No. 36 



Time after time I have watched it and tried to get a photograph, but failed at 

 the last moment. Might I ask that this photograph be published ? 



The President: I agree with Professor Caesar that the publication of that 

 photograph would be most useful. 



We will now proceed to the programme. The; next paper is that by Mr. 

 Parrott and Dr. Glasgow on " The Leaf Weevil (Polydrosus impressifrons Gyll.) 

 in New York." 



THE LEAP- WEEVIL {Polydnisus'' impressifrons Gyll.) IN NEW YOEK. 



P. J, Parrott and Hugh Glasgow. 



The leaf-weevil which is discussed in this paper is a new and, until the in- 

 ception of this study, an unrecorded enemy of shade and fruit trees in the United 

 States. In view of the losses sustained by farming interests in America by intro- 

 duced insects a newly-discovered species of foreign origin, however unimportant 

 it is in its original home, is the subject of considerable speculation as well as of 

 some apprehension until its status as a pest is definitely determined. The follow- 

 ing notes represent a preliminary account of our studies upon the weevil, which 

 are perhaps not without interest to those who are especially concerned in matters 

 dealing with the introduction and spread of noxious insects. 



Discovery and Identification of Species. 



Our attention was first attracted to this species during the summer of 1906 

 when large numbers of the beetles were observed in young plantings of willows and 

 poplars in the vicinity of Geneva. They were present on nearly every tree and 

 were feeding on the margins of the more succulent leaves. Some days later 

 specimens of the insect were sent to us by the foreman of a nursery in another 

 part of Ontario County, N.Y., who reported that the beetles were injuring roses 

 and apples. As the species was apparently not represented in entomological 

 collections in this country and it was difficult to secure positive identification,, 

 specimens of the insects were forwarded to Professor Alfred Giard, The Sorbonne,. 

 Paris, and to Doctor G. Horvath, The Hungarian National Museum, Budapest,, 

 both of whom independently classified the beetle as Polydrusus impressifrons Gyll. 



Status of the Species in Europe. 



In view of the great numbers of the beetle in certain sections of New York, 

 a perusal of European literature impresses strongly two points on the mind of 

 the reader: (1) The weevil belongs to a group of insects which contain some 

 species that are destructive, and (2) the species impressifrons is of little signi- 

 ficance; and there apparently very little knowledge, if any, as regards its life 

 history and habits — deficiencies which hold equally for some associated species 

 that are of considerable importance, and therefore better known, at least by name. 

 Notwithstanding the seeming lack of detailed data on life histories and habits, 

 the weevils attacking buds and tender foliage of fruit and shade trees appear to 

 be more injurious and varied as regards number of species in Europe than is 



*This genus is also designated Polydrosus, but W. D. Pierce of the U. S. Bureau of 

 Entomology has kindly informed us that the foregoing designation is, according to the 

 rules of nomenclature, to be preferred. 



