816 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 3 



NOTES ON RHYNCHITES BICOLOR, FABR. 



By Edgau L. Dickeusox, Xeir BniiisiricJc. X. ./. 



In this Journal for December, 1909, page 467, Dr. B. N. Gates gives 

 some notes on the abundance of Rliynchites hicolor in Massachusetts 

 during the past season. The insect is recorded as common in New 

 Jersey, throughout the state, but in our experience it is somewhat 

 local in its distribution, being very abundant at some points and quite 

 scarce at others. In some of the nurseries where we have had an 

 opportunity of observing roses, in the course of inspection work, we 

 have found little evidence of the insect. At New Brunswick, however, 

 it occurs each year so abundantly on the Eosa nigosa hedge on the 

 College Campus that there is scarcely a seed capsule which does not 

 show one or more of its punctures. No effort has been made to 

 breed the insect but certain observations have been recorded which 

 it seems advisable to publish at this time. 



As noted in other localities, the insect makes its appearance in May 

 and continues through June and July and is observed first feeding 

 in the buds or opened blossoms. In feeding in the buds the insect 

 inserts its beak through the still closed petals, causing the punctures 

 which becomes so conspicuous when the blossoms open. Rarely, feeding 

 occurs in the tender tips of the shoots where as many as a dozen 

 closely placed punctures have been observed in a single tip. Verj- 

 few of these tips were found although their wilted appearance made 

 them rather conspicuous. That they were caused by feeding seems 

 quite evident from the fact that no eggs were found in the punctures 

 although a careful search was made for them. 



While I have no record of the beginning of oviposition, it continued 

 for some time and in late June the beetles were noted both feeding in 

 the open flowers and in copulation, and oviposition was in progress. 

 The latter operation was observed on more than one occasion and 

 noted to proceed in the following manner: 



The work of making the puncture was continued until the full 

 length of the beak — as far as the eyes — was inserted and the final 

 part appeared to be the smoothing down of the sides of the puncture 

 and enlarging the bottom ; the whole operation taking somewhat over 

 a quarter of an hour. In working the beetle spread its legs as if to 

 brace itself and the antenna? were extended backward close together 

 against the upper surface of the head. Having completed the punc- 

 ture, the insect turned about, rested its anal extremity in the cavity, 

 and remained there for about half a minute while it oviposited. Then 

 turning about again it spent slightly more than half a minute in 



