180 LEAF-ROLLING SNOUT-BEETLES. 



of each projects forward, so that two small and acute teeth seem 

 to project. 



We have a number of such small beetles in our state, one of 

 which, of a dark blue-black color, covered with fine and dark hairs, 

 is rather common in various flowers early in the season. An- 

 other species, (Rhynchites bicolor Fab.), is polished red above, 

 excepting the snout, legs, and under side, which are black, and is 

 sometimes very common and destructive to our roses. It destroys 

 both flower buds and flowers, and deposits eggs into the fruit, in 

 which the young mature. Both wild and cultivated flowers are 

 thus invaded, but especially the former. The beetle measures 

 about one-fourth of an inch in length, not including the long 

 snout which is about as long as the abdomen. 



FAMILY ATTELABIDAE. 



(Leaf-rolling Snout-beetles)^ 



Such beetles have neither an elytral fold nor a labrum ; the 

 mandibles are flat, pincer-shaped, and toothed on the inner side. 

 They are mainly interesting from the fact that the females make a 

 compact thimble-shaped roll from leaves, in which a single egg is 

 deposited, and inside of which the larva feeds until full grown, 

 when it leaves and enters the ground for pupation. It is very 

 interesting to see the female at work making such a cradle for its 

 young, and as at least two species are fairly abundant in our state 

 the lover of nature will have but little trouble to observe the whole 

 operation. One species, polished black, with a large dark-red 

 humeral spot, occurs upon our oaks; it is Attelabus bipustulatus 

 Fab. The other species, J. rhois Boh., occurs upon the hazel and 

 alder; it is brown and densely covered with yellowish-white hairs. 

 The illustration, ( Fig. 189), shows a thimble-shaped cradle 

 on oak, and Fig. 188, the adult of A. analis 111. 



Prof. Packard describes the operation of making such a 

 cradle as follows : "When about to lay her eggs the female begins 

 to eat a slit near the base of the leaf on each side of the midrib, 

 and at right angles to it, so that the leaf may be folded together. 



