ON THE LARVAL STATE OF THE PEA-WEEVIL. 195 



and beans show above ground than we are painfull}- reminded of 

 their presence. A succession of wet days, or prevalence of east 

 wind, or other cause to check the plant, and the havoc committed 

 in a short space of time is heartrending to witness. The leaves 

 are scalloped round the edge into fantastic forms, the younger 

 ones often being eaten to the midrib ; the stems turn yellow; what 

 remains of the leaves assumes a purplish tint, and, if the weather 

 still continues unfavourable, the crop is lost. Yet tiie cause of 

 all this mischief is invisible to the ordinary observer. The habit 

 of the insect is to fold its legs and fall at the least alarm, and 

 remain hidden among the clods during the day, coming out 

 to feed at night. Should the soil in which it is secreted be 

 disturbed it will roll about amongst the clods without giving any 

 sign whatever of life ; but press the ground for some half-yard 

 square firmly with the foot, go down on one knee, remain motion- 

 less, and in a few seconds the place will appear alive from the in- 

 numerable weevils that will push their way through to the surface. 

 This gives us a clue to the remedy. If the weather admits of the 

 free and repeated use of the roller, a great proportion of the beetles 

 will be crushed or smothered by preventing them coming to the 

 surface for air, and the plants — freed in a measure from their con- 

 stant gnawing, and, being assisted shortly afterwards by the hoe — 

 will make new and vigorous growth, and soon bid defiance to what 

 are left of the insatiable little beings. 



It would appear that the eggs are deposited beneath the surface 

 of the ground at the time the beetles are devouring the plants, 

 but in what manner still remains to be cleared up. 



Appended is a short description of the different stages of the 

 weevil in question : — 



The maggot-like larva is white, plump, and wrinkled, with 

 brown horny head, and a pair of powerful projecting jaws. Each 

 segment bears a few short hairs. Legs none ; anal segment 

 used as a foot. When full-fed it forms an oval cell without 

 lining, about two inches underground, and at once undergoes 

 transformation. 



The pupa is also white, but as it matures the eyes becomes 

 black and the rostrum pitchy ; rostrum bent down on to breast ; 

 legs folded under thorax ; wings and elytra brought round so as 

 to cover posterior pair of legs, not sealed down ; each segment 

 with a row of spurs and anal one with a pair of long spines at apex. 



