INJURIOUS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS < >F CALIFORNIA. 



289 



THE BROAD-BEAN WEEVIL 



I! melius ni H in a n us Boheman 20 ' 



[Laria rufimana (Boheman)] 20 " 



(Fig. 283) 



Description. — The adults are from T : V inch to | inch long and a little 

 more than half as wide. The color is black with light markings on 

 the elytra and pygidium. The head and antenna' are dark with the 

 basal four joints of the 

 latter reddish-brown. 

 The forelegs are red- 

 dish-brown and black, 

 while the middle and 

 hind pairs are entirely 

 black. The eggs are 

 light or greenish-yellow 

 in color. The larvae are 

 pale-yellow or white 

 with dark heads. 



Life History. — Ac- 

 cording to Chittenden, 

 the eggs are deposited 

 singly and indiscrimi- 

 nately upon the outside 

 of the pods, where they 

 are plainly visible, or 

 they are laid in the 

 blossoms on the seed ves- 

 sel before or after the 

 pods are formed. Upon 

 hatching, the larva? 

 gnaw through the pod 

 into the growing seeds, 

 where they continue to 

 feed until ready to 

 1 r a n s f o r m into the 

 pupal stage. This stage 

 is passed within the bean 

 and the adult emerges by cutting a circular hole in the skin. This 

 species hibernates in the adult stage, there being but one generation a 

 year. Egg-laying begins in March and April, hence the adults live 

 for a period of from eight to nine months. 



Nature of Work. — The appearance of the work of this species is the 

 same as that of the bean and pea weevils. 



Distribution. — This species seems to be quite generally distributed 

 throughout the central and southern part of the State. It has been 

 taken by W. B. Parker at Sacramento, Berkeley, Richey, Amador 

 County, and by I. J. Condit at San Luis Obispo. It has also been 



20T Bul. No. 96, pt. V, Bur. Ent. U. S. Dept. Agrie., 1912. 



20G Because of confusion and the apparent unsoundness of the generic name, Laria, 

 it has been dropped in the revision. See footnote 203. 



1&— 13664 



Fig. 283.— The broad-bean weevil, Briichus rufi- 

 manus Boh. Adult on broad-bean and the exit hole. 

 Enlarged four times. (Original) 



