LEAF WEEVILS. 



141 



plan, wliich I have found answer well, though I have not tried 

 it with this special infestation, might help those who wish to 

 observe the life-history of this somewhat rare attack. I took 

 a wire or pierced metal dish-cover, such as is used for pre- 

 venting flies getting at meat in larders, and placed this on 

 the ground over the larvas and their food, or where the larva? 

 had buried themselves of which I wished to secure the perfect 

 insects. Thus the grubs were left undisturbed in perfectly 

 natural circumstances, and all that was necessary was to look 

 frequently when the time of development drew near, lest, in 

 case of Lepidoptera (i. e. butterflies or moths), the specimens 

 should have had time to injure their plumage by beating on 

 the metal cover. With specimens of this nature it is well to 

 have a few twigs firmly set in the ground under the dish-cover 

 for the newly-developed insects to crawl up and rest on whilst 

 spreading their embryo wings to full size. 



"Oblong Leaf Weevil"; "Downy Brown Leaf Weevil." 



Phyllobiiis obloiKjus, Linn. ; P. (XeDiuicus) ohlongus, Stephens. 

 Green "Leaf" Weevil. Phyllohius macidicomis, Germ. 



1 and 2, Phyllobius oblongus ; 3, P. maculicorxis : magnified and 

 natural size. 



The PJnjllohius beetles taken together are described as 

 " beetles feeding on the leaves and buds of trees and bushes, 

 and of wliich many kinds are injurious to fruit trees." But, 

 though widely distributed, as much attention has not been 

 given either to their life-history or to remedial measures as 

 is desirable, and of the very few reports which I have received 

 of their appearances, those given below may be of service as 



