490 



COLEOPTERA. 



whole body, while the etytra are furrowed and do not quite 

 cover the tip of the abdomen. G. x>almarum Linn, is a large 

 black weevil, which lives in the trunks of palms. The Grain 

 Weevil, jSitophilus granarius Linn. (Fig. 4G7 ; e, and natural 

 size ; 6, pupa, enlarged), is pitchy red in color 

 and about an eighth of an inch long, and is im- 

 mensely prolific. This great pest, both as a 

 larva and beetle, consumes wheat after it is stored 

 up, being very abundant in granaries. The larva 

 devours the inside of the hull, leaving the shell 

 Fig. 468. whole, so that its presence is not readily de- 

 tected. To prevent its attacks Harris recommends that the 

 wheat be kept cool, well ventilated, and frequently stirred. 



A similar weevil, Sitoplulus oryzce Linn. (Fig. 467 ; e, and 

 natural size) , attacks the grains of rice and also of wheat ; it 

 differs in having two large red spots on each elytron, and it is 

 abundant in the South, where it is called the ' ' black Aveevil." 

 The European turnip weevil, Ceutorhynclms assimilis Payk., 

 a broad, pale gj-ay insect, has occurred in Maine on the radish. 

 The Grape Curculio, Coeliodes incequalis Say (Fig. 468 ; 469 ; 

 a, grape disfigm-ed by the larva ; 6, larva), has lately, according 

 to AValsh, been very destructive to 

 grapes, stinging the fruit and thus 

 destroying whole bunches of them. 

 The presence of the larva in the 

 gi-ape ma}' be known b}' a discolora- 

 tion on one side of the berr^^ as if 

 prematurely ripening, though it be 

 the last of June or early in Jul}'. Late 

 in July or early in August the gi'iib may be found fully grown, 

 when it drops to the ground and descending a little beneath 

 the surface transforms, and the beetle appears early in Sep- 

 tember. It is grayish black, the elytra black freckled with 

 gray spots, and striated, with large punctures. The legs are 

 dull brick red ; the femora are unarmed, while the four anterior 

 tibiffi have a large rectangular tooth near the base. It is from 

 .09 to .11 of an inch in length. As a preventative against 

 their attacks, the vines should be thoroughly shaken each day 

 in June. 



Fig. 469. 



