April, '19] HERRICK AND DETWILER: CLOVER INSECTS 207 



coons were present in the heads of clover, the empty cocoons showing 

 that some beetles had already emerged. 



Those larvae that live in the heads of the clover tunnel into the head 

 and eat into the florets a short distance up from the bases and appar- 

 ently devour the ovaries, thus preventing the development of seed. It 

 is seldom that more than one larva is found in a head but this one 

 destroys several florets. The larvae of this beetle also work in the 

 axils of the clover stems. In one small plot of clover the larvae were 

 quite numerous in the axils of the stems and committing considerable 

 injury. The larva eats into the sheath surrounding the bud in the 

 axil, severs the bud from the stem, and eats out a groove in the side of 

 the main stem. Further investigations are necessary to determine the 

 amount and seriousness of this injury. 



During the latter part of June and the first part of July the larvae 

 became full grown. Many of them had already spun cocoons by June 

 29 and from some cocoons the beetles had emerged. The lacelike 

 cocoons are found in the heads of the clover, often at the base of the 

 head. The following table contains data on the length of the pupal 

 stage : 



Duration of Period in Cocoon 



Date of Spinning Cocoon Emergence of Beetle Period in Cocoon, Day3 



June 27 July 13 16 



June 29 July 13 14 



July 6 July 19 13 



July 12 July 25 13 



On June 28 a number of larvae were placed in a cage with clover. 

 On July 2 one cocoon was found and by July 4, eight had spun cocoons. 

 The first beetle emerged July 16, another July 17, and a third July 

 18. From the foregoing data it is apparent that the time spent in 

 the cocoon varies from 13 to 16 days, probably varying with the individ- 

 ual and the temperature. 



The Clover-Head Weevil, Phytonomus 7neles Fab. 



This is a foreign weevil that has apparently been recently intro- 

 duced into this countrj', probably from Europe. It is said to occur 

 widely over Europe and is also found in parts of Asia and along the 

 north coast of Africa. In this country it has been found in Now Hamp- 

 shire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York. 

 Apparently it was first noted in New York in 1907. During the past 

 season this weevil was abundant in red clover fields in the vicinity of 

 Ithaca and was evidently (•()ntril)utiiig to tlie g(Mieral insect injury to 

 this plant. 



