88 INJURIOUS INSECTS OF KANSAS. 



The insect is single-brooded. The egg-laying begins about the 

 middle of May and is continued by succeeding individuals for 

 about two months. The insects mostly pass the winter in the 

 beetle stage, a few, however, entering the ground so late that they 

 hibernate as larvte. The damage to the fruit is caused almost 

 wholly by the larvre, although both male and female beetles feed 

 upon the fruit. 



Besides the plum, this curculio attacks the peach, nectarine, 

 apricot, apple, pear, and cherry, but not to the alarming extent 

 as in the case of the plum. 



Remedies. — The most eiFectual and practical remedy is one 

 based on the observation of a peculiar habit of the plum weevil, 

 namely, that of its folding up its legs, feigning death, and dropping 

 when slightly jarred. What is necessary, then, is to jar the in- 

 fested trees, having provided means for catching the beetles as 

 they fall from the bi'anches and fruit. A sheet may be spread 

 under the tree, and the trees jarred by hand, if small; if large, 

 by cutting off a branch, leaving a stump several inches long, and 

 striking the end of this stump with a mallet. 



Doctor Hull's "curculio catcher" is an excellent contrivance 

 for using the jarring method. "It consists of a wheelbarrow on 

 which is mounted a large, inverted umbrella, split in front to iv- 

 ceive the trunk of a tree, against which the machine, which is 

 provided with a padded bumper, is driven with force sufficient 

 to jar the curculios down into the umbrella, where they are col- 

 lected and destroyed." 



Spraying with Paris green (three ounces to 50 gallons of 

 water, see p. 7) three or four times, at intervals of a week, begin- 

 ning as soon as the blossoms have fallen, may be successfully used. 



Hens with their broods will do good work in an infested plum 

 orchard. Hogs turned into the orchard will devour much of the 

 infested fallen fruit. 



Kansas Notes. — The Plum Curculio has practically prevented 

 all plum growing in Kansas. Mr. G. C. Brackett refers to its 

 presence in Kansas in 1873 (see Transactions State Horticultural 

 Society 1873, p. 117). 



