216 



BRENTHIDS. 



ing the greater part of this period. The worms devour nearly 

 one-third or one-half of the interior of the nut, part of the cavity 

 being" filled with the castings of the worm. As the grub is white 

 it is liable to be overlooked and eaten with the chestnut; when 

 mature it leaves through a round hole and drops to the ground, 

 into which it enters to some depth, and here it hibernates, chang- 

 ing to a beetle in the spring. 



People in more southern regions, who raise chestnuts for the 

 market, lose considerably by the attacks of this grub. The only 

 remedy against the beetle consists in gathering the nuts as soon 

 as they fall, and either shipping them at once, or else storing them 

 in tight boxes and barrels, from which the larva; can not escape. 

 Here they gather in large numbers at the bottom, and can easily be 

 killed with boiling water. 



We have a number of species, which are found in acorns. B. 

 rectus Say, one of them, is illustrated in Fig. 230. 



FAMILY BRENTHIDAE. 



(Bret kids) . 



( )nly a single species is found in our state, the family being- 

 confined to tropical regions, where a large number of very peculiar 

 forms exist. Our species, the Eupsalis minuta, Drury, although 



Fig-. 231.— Eupsalis minuta, Drury. 

 Riley. 



Fig. 232 —Brenthus anchorago 

 Linn ; male and female. Alter 

 Brebm. 



