460 JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY [Vol. 3 



The species certainly prefers alfalfa to any other food plant so far 

 recognized. Its next choice appears to be burr-clover (also a Medi- 

 cago), closely followed by white sweet clover. Its presence on other 

 clovers is rather rare, and it is unusual to find burr- or white sweet- 

 clover infested early in the year. 

 t 



Broods 



There is evidently but one brood of the insect, but as the season 

 advances it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish between 

 specimens of over-wintering weevils and weevils that issued during 

 the season. The length of life of the adult cannot be definitely 

 stated even in months. We have kept adults from the time they 

 issued in May until a year from the following November, though it 

 is probable that this is an unusually long period for them to live. 



Copulation has been noticed of newly-issued males with females of 

 the previous year in early July; and very soon afterward between 

 specimens of the year, while mating of the over-wintering specimens 

 appear to continue from spring to fall. The males have the same 

 habit as those of P. pundatus, reported by Dr. Folsom^ in that they 

 follow the females around and mate a number of times. 



Eggs and young larvae found late in the fall, September to Novem- 

 ber, are probably progeny of over-wintering females and not members 

 of a second brood. It is probable that many of these larvae perish on 

 account of unsuitable weather conditions but I have had adults issue 

 as late as November 28. 



Hibernation 



Many of the adults go into hibernation early in the fall, even as 

 early as the first week in August. Tho many of these come out 

 to feed at times, it has been noticed that even a passing cloud 

 will drive them to shelter. A cold rain following a hot day seemed 

 to be quite destructive so that it appears they are very susceptible to 

 climatic conditions during this period. Certainly a large number of 

 beetles die during the summer and fall of the year they are bred. 



A small amount of shelter seems to suffice for winter protection. 

 Burlap bands on apple trees are favorite places and where such bands 

 were placed on fence-posts along an alfalfa field many weevils were 

 collected. They do not appear to be gregarious in their hibernating 

 habits but each seeks its own shelter under grass, bark, in hollow 

 trees, crevices in the ground, in buildings or almost any protected 

 spot. 



>1909: Folsom: 111. Agr. Exp. Sta. Bui. 134, Apr., p. 162. 



