192 



GENUINE SNOUT-BEETLES. 



and exposes the dark slate-colored body, which is remarkable for 

 its exceedingly firm texture. In fact this insect is so hard that a 

 common insect pin will not perforate it. The beetle bores little 

 holes into the leaf and flower stems of the plant, depositing" one 

 egg in each, from which a white, grub-like larva hatches, which 

 devours the plant tissue. The insect is not common in Minne- 

 sota. According to Smith, Webster and others, whenever the 

 leaves are regularly cut for the market but little trouble is ex- 

 perienced ; old leaves should be removed and destroyed, so that 



Fig. 203. — Lixus concavus, Say. After 

 Webster. 



Fig. 204. — Li'-YL'Stroni Europe. After 

 Brehni. 



none of them remain after midsummer. Several species of Lixus 

 occur in our state; a European species found in aquatic plants is 

 shown in Fig. 204. 



Among the large number of snout-beetles that follow the 

 above genus in the classification but few are really injurious, al- 

 though they occur in the flowers of such plants as the strawber- 

 ries, blackberries, raspberries, and others. Perhaps two species of 

 Magdolis are an exception, as the one ( .1/. aenescens Lee.) is fre- 

 quently found upon the apple-tree, and the other (.1/. olyrd Hbst.) 



