GENUINE SNOUT-BEETLES. 209 



THE STRAWBERRY CROWN -BORER. 



(Tylodcrma fragariae Ril.). 



These beetles are not frequently seen, but the work of their 

 larva? is apt to become very prominent, as all strawberry plants 

 infested by them are sure to perish. The beetle, shown in Fig. 

 222, is about one-sixth of an inch long", of a leathery-brown color, 

 with two large black spots on the sides of the elytra, which spots 

 are set off very clearly in fresh specimens, as in such cases they 

 are bordered with heavy white scales, which, however, have almost 

 disappeared in older ones. The prothorax is deeply and uniform- 

 ly pitted. 



Like a number of similar and closely allied beetles, it pre- 

 tends to be dead when disturbed, and plays possum most perfectly. 

 having the rather short and thick beak completely hidden beneath 

 the head and thorax, and the legs are folded together and bent 

 at the same time so that no one would believe that this object 

 could be a living insect. The beetles appear in June and July, and 

 deposit eggs about the crown of the strawberry plant ; when 

 hatched the young larvse enter the crown, burrow downward, 

 and bore and excavate the substance of the crown until full 

 grown, when they appear as represented at a in the illustration. 

 After changing to a pupa the adult beetle appears during the 

 month of August. 



Old strawberry plants are more liable to injury than new 

 ones, and the only remedy we possess is to dig up and burn the 

 plants suspected of containing such larwe as soon as the fruiting 

 season is over. 



A number of similar beetles occur in flowers and upon the 

 grape-vine, but as far as known cause no injuries. Both the pol- 

 ished black T. ocrcum Say, and the rougher T. foveolatmn Say, 

 which is ornamented with white scales arranged in spots, lines, 

 and bands, are common in Minnesota. 



The illustration, (Fig. 223. Plate III.), shows a very remark- 

 able snout-beetle (Tachygonus Lecontci Gyll.), which feeds on the 

 leaves of oak. It gave the writer a good illustration of the truth of 



