332 ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 



Pupa. — In an oval open mesh cocoon usually in flower head; about 

 7 days. 



Life-history. — Hibernating adults come forth as soon as clover 

 appears in spring. Egg laying commences immediately and extends 

 over several weeks. One generation, but all stages found during the 

 summer. 



Alfalfa Leaf Weevil (Phytonomus posticus Gyll.). — (Consult Farmers' 

 Bull. 741, U. S. Dep. Ag.) A European beetle, introduced about 

 1904 into the West, puncturing the stems and eating the leaves of 

 alfalfa. The larvje also feed on the tender growths, causing the tops 

 to appear white. 



Adult. — A dark brown snout-beetle, ^/{g irich long; body covered with 

 black and grey hairs; hibernates in crowns of alfalfa or under grass, 

 rubbish, etc.; oviposits in April and June. 



Eggs. — Small, oval, shiny, yellowish; laid in punctures in stems of 

 alfalfa; April-July, hatch in 10 days. 



Larva. — A green, worm-like grub, 3*^ inch long, tapering toward both 

 ends; head black; a light stripe down the back. May-July. 



Pupa. — Cocoons globular and composed of network of white threads ; 

 spun in dead leaves or rubbish on the ground; duration 1-2 weeks. 



Control. — Disk alfalfa fields in early spring and cut about middle 

 of May when most of eggs have been laid; use a bush-drag to kill the 

 weevil; collect the weevils; destroy weeds and rubbish; spray in April 

 with arsenite of zinc solution (4 lb. to 100 gal.); pasture or graze in- 

 fested fields after eggs are laid. 



A Clover Leaf Weevil (Tyckius picirostris Fab.) is injurious to some 

 extent to clover heads on the island of Montreal. The adult is a black 

 curculio 31o ii^ch long, and is an introduction from Europe where it 

 attacks the flower heads of red clover, plantain and Genista. 



Strawbeny Weevil {Anthonomus signatus Say). — (Consult Cir. 

 21, U. S. Dep. Ag., Div. Ent.) Adult. A small weevil, 3^fo J^^ch 

 long, from black to dull red, marked with a dark spot on each wing- 

 cover. Snout half as long as body, slender and curved. Hibernates 

 July-May (Figs. 213 and 214). 



Eggs. — ^Laid in buds in spring; hatch in 6-7 days. 



Larva. — Feeds on pollen and harder parts of buds. Matures in 

 3-4 weeks. 



Pupa. — Formed in a cell in the bud; duration 5-8 days. Injury 



