APPLE INSECTS. 17 



Dindynius versicolor H.-S. 



(Harlequin Fruit Bug. PyrrhocoridEe; Hemipteri.) 

 Hosts: Apple. 



Injury: Disfigures apples by puncturing the skin in feeding. 



Description and biology: Adult about 12 mm. long, orange red, black, and yellow in 

 color. Nymphs of both sexes, when about half grown, are more highly colored than 

 when mature. Eggs are deposited in late summer among rubbish, crevices of old 

 posts, etc., or even in stubble. The newly hatched nymphs on hot days occur in 

 swarms on many kinds of plants, on fences, and among rubbish. (See plate vi.) 



Distribution: Australia, 



French, C. Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria, 1891, pt. 1, p. 89. 



Rhizopertha collaris Eiithson. 



(Apple-tree Borer. Bostrychidae; Coleoptera.) 

 Hosts: Apple. 



Injury: Kegarded as serious pest. 



Description and biology: Adult length 4 to (> mm. Adults bore into wood. Larva 

 bores horizontal biurows into wood of trees: remains in tree after it is dead. Eggs 

 are deposited in the holes bored in trees. 



Distribution: Australia, Tasmania. 

 French, C. Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria, 1891, pt. 1, p. 61. 

 Phyllobius maculicornls tiermar. 

 (Green Leaf Weevil. BrachjThinidae; Coleoptera.) 

 Hosts: Apple, pear, cherry, plum, nuts, oak, hawthorn, sloe, maple. 

 Injury: Injury frequent. Attack young buds and leaves. 



Description and biology: Adult length 12 mm.; brown; clothed with green or 

 greenish scales; slightly hairy; antenuije reddish, with black, clublike apices; legs 

 black and brown. Occurs throughout May and June. Pupates in spring. Larva 

 white, footless, curved, slightly hairy, with brown hairy head. Feeds on roots of 

 various plants. Winters as larva. Eggs deposited in ground. 



Distribution: Europe. 

 Theobald, F. V. Insect Pests of Fruit, 1909, p. 119. 



Laptops hopei Schonherr. 

 (Apple-root Borer. Ciu-culionidae; Coleoptera.) 

 Hosts: Apple, pear, cherry. 

 Injury: Very serious injury. Attacks roots. 



Description and biology: Adult length 25 mm.; light grayish brown. Occurs just 

 before buds begin to swell. Disappears in December (Victoria). Pupates in ground. 

 Larva length 25 mm.; whitish; tunnels roots of trees. Eggs deposited on upper 

 sides of leaves, which have their edges glued together, hiding the eggs. Deposited 

 in masses of 40 to 50. (See text fig. 7b.) 



Distribution: Victoria. 

 French, C. Handbook of Destructive Insects of Victoria, 1891, pt. 1, p. 71. 

 Magdalis barbicomis Latreille. 

 (Apple-stem Piercer. Curculionidse; Coleoptera.) 

 Hosts: Apple, quince, and medlar trees. 

 Injury: To twigs. 



Description and biology: Adult length 2-2.5 mm.; black; neck-shield without 

 knobs on sides; very thickly punctate, elytra strigose-punctate, the space between 

 punctations ridged. Occurs in June. Pupates in gallery in twig under bark. 

 Larva burrows in twig, by preference in bark, to the sapwood which is onlv sUghtly 

 attacked: the bark becomes reddish -brown and sinks away. 

 27812—18 2 



