288 



INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS OF CALIFORNIA. 



white spot on the hinder part of the thorax, near the base of the wing 



covers. The eggs are very small and deep yellow in color. The larvae 



are yellowish in color, with dark 



heads. The pupae are first light, 



gradually becoming darker with 



age. 



Life History. — The adult 

 hibernating weevils appear in 

 the spring and as soon as the 

 pods are formed on the vines 

 and begin egg-laying. The eggs 

 are thrust inside the pod by the 

 females, thus being thoroughly 

 protected and out of sight. The 

 young larvae, as soon as hatched, 

 bore into the tender peas and 

 remain inside, drilling out suffi- 

 cient room until they are ready 

 to emerge as adults in the fall 



rm • . l-ii Fig. -SI. — The pea weevil. Brnchus pisorum 



Or Spring. lhlS IS accomplished Linn. Adults and exit holes in peas. En- 



by cutting a circular hole in one larged twice - (Original) 

 side of the pea. Unlike the bean weevil, this species works only upon 

 the peas originally attacked when green and does not continue to breed 



upon dried and stored 

 seed. There is but 

 one uneven brood a 

 year. 



Nature of Work.— 

 The work of this spe- 

 cies greatly resembles 

 that of the bean 

 weevil and consists in 

 hollowing out the 

 hosts and cutting the 

 small, round exit 

 holes, as shown in 

 Fig. 281. 



Distribution. — The pea weevil is common throughout the State, but 

 not troublesome in all the pea-growing sections. 

 Foods. — It works upon all varieties of garden and flower peas. 

 Control.— As the seed is infested before harvesting, control measures 

 are of little avail, except to prevent a reinfestation by means of the 

 seed. A thorough fumigation with carbon bisulfid or hydrocyanic acid 

 gas is a sure way of accomplishing this. No plantings should be made 

 in fields infested the previous season, if the attacks of the beetle are 

 to be avoided. 



Fig. 282. — Adults of the pea weevil, Bruchus pisorum 

 Linn. Enlarged six times. (Original) 



