H4 Journal of Agricultural Research vol. xx, no. 2 



Although five individuals (two males and three females) were kept 

 together 35 days, no mating was observed, nor did oviposition take place 

 on the half-ripe fruit that was provided for this purpose. 



GENERATIONS 



The apparently long duration of the larval stage and the known 

 longevity of the adults indicate that there is but a single generation in a 

 year. If this is true, then it is a long-drawn-out generation, for, from the 

 material obtained at Frijoles, adults emerged over a period of 40 days, and 

 in several cases a month elapsed between the emergence of the first and 

 last adults from the same seed. It is probable, however, that breeding 

 is controlled in the Tropics more by the activities of the host plants in 

 supplying the proper conditions for oviposition. 



CONTROL 



The control of all three species of the genus Heilipus now definitely 

 known to infest avocado seeds is comparatively simple, because pupation 

 takes place inside the seed. It consists of gathering up and burning the 

 fallen fruits and seeds. This control may be complicated, however, by 

 the presence of "wild" trees that are not readily accessible or easily 

 eliminated. In such cases it may be possible to protect cultivated fruits 

 by arsenical sprays, for the adults feed freely on the leaves and doubtless 

 in the field drink considerable water off the leaves when these are wet. 



DESCRIPTION OF HEILIPUS PERSEAE 



Heilipus perseae Barber, n. sp. (PI. 7, A, B.) 



Closely related to H. lauri Boh., but more robust; the squamose fascia of elytra 

 larger, and, in addition, a similar squamose area on the sides of the pronotum. The 

 rostrum is short in both sexes, and the mesosternum is not prominent. The legs are 

 also much shorter than in either H. lauri or H . pittieri. 



Ovate, shining, rufopiceous, clothed sparsely with scales which are white on legs 

 and under surface, pale ochreous in the seriate elytral punctures, and darker ochreous 

 on thoracic and elytral fasciae, the marginal scales of which appear paler. Frontal 

 fovea deep; eyes much larger than in H. lauri and separated above by less than half 

 the width of rostrum; the latter shorter (eye to apex) than the pronotum in both 

 sexes. Pronotum very coarsely sparsely punctate, median line impunctate but not 

 elevated; lateral squamose areas irregularly oval, usually a little produced downward 

 in the anterior constriction, but rarely extending to basal or apical margins. 

 Scutellum small, subtriangular, convex, impunctate, polished. Elytra sparsely 

 seriately foveolate, the foveas densely squamose; two large squamose areas in same 

 position as the small ones in H . lauri, the apical fascia usually extending from side 

 margin to suture, but sometimes nearly divided at suture'. Mesosternum a little 

 produced but not projecting beyond coxae. First and second ventral segments 

 feebly impressed at middle in the female, a little more strongly impressed in the male. 

 Tibial claws short and stout. Length (rostrum excluded) n to 15.5 mm., width 4.8 

 to 5.7 mm. Length of rostrum, males 2.9 to 3.4 mm., females 3.2 to 4.1 mm. 



