tllO Fiftieth Report on the State Museum 



other American species of this genus by the first joint of the antenna 

 being shorter than the second. It is beautifully variegated with fuscous 

 lines and spots interspersed among the dense clothing of ochreous scales 

 on the thorax and wing-covers. Some examples are entirely ochreous. 

 The beak of the female varies in length from one and one-fourth to twice 

 the length of the body. Its distribution has been given as follows: 

 Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, North 

 Carolina, West Virginia, Ohio, Illinois, Tennessee, Middle States west- 

 v/ard. Other localities are recorded by McCarthy for chestnut weevils, 

 but the species are not indicated. The smaller chestnut weevil, Balanmiis 

 rectus Say, has a wider recorded distribution, as follows: Canada, Massa- 

 chusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, 

 Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Southern States and Arizona. Besides 

 the above, chestnut weevils have been reported from Delaware, 

 Maryland, Georgia, Michigan and Missouri, but without having been 

 referred to either species. Possibly each of the species may have a dis- 

 tribution over the United States co-extensive with its chosen food. 



B. rectus varies in size from about one-sixth to one-third of an inch in 

 length. The general color of the scales and hair is light brown above, 

 paler below; on the thorax there is a dark brown discal stripe, which is 

 limited at the sides and divided longitudinally by a pale yellow line. 

 The elytra are variously marked with tne same color. The beak of the 

 female is very long, being equal to or even longer in proportion than in 

 B. proboscideus. The long beak and the long conical thorax is said to 

 distinguish B. rectus from the other species of the genus. The male is 

 not so easily recognized: "It has a shorter thorax, but it is still narrowed 

 anteriorly; this, with small femoral tooth, oval elytra rapidly narrowed 

 from base, and a yellowish or brownish spot of condensed scales on each 

 side of the central line of the metasternum (occasionally obsolete), will, 

 with practice, distinguish it." (Hamilton.) (See PI. VIII, figs. 4, 6.) 



Life-History. 

 The life-history of these two species agrees quite closely, so far as 

 known. The weevils of B. proboscideus appear about the time of the 

 blossoming of the chestnut trees, — this being variable in the different 

 latitudes, and oviposit in the young burrs. The long beak of the female 

 is used to pierce the husk to the kernel, and one or more eggs are then 

 deposited therein. The slight injury done the burr and the nut at this 

 early period of its development soon heals and shows no indication of 

 the grub within as it comes to maturity. The holes noticed in " wormy 



