105 



from these bark borers, which apparently have been the primary 

 cause of the trouble. The reason for this outbreak is not known, 

 althougfh it possibly may have some connection with the great drought 

 of the preceding years, which may have weakened the pines and ren- 

 dered them easier victims of their insect enemies. 



EGG-LAYING EECORD OF THE PLUM CURCTJLIO. 



( Conoim chehiK nenuphar H erbst. ) 

 By A. L. QuAiNTANfE and Ralph I. Smith, College Pari; Mel. 



The accompan34ng tal)le requires but little in the way of explana- 

 tion, aside from a statement of conditions under which the work was 

 done. 



On the morning of May 13, 1902, a considerable number of curculio 

 were caught from Japan plum trees in the college orchard, l\y the 

 usual jarring method. At this time egg laying had but just begun, as 

 very few punctures were to be found in the young plums. Ten 

 females were taken in copulation and each placed in a four-ounce 

 bottle. Three or four fresh plums were supplied daily to each insect, 

 and the number of eggs deposited was determined by dissection of 

 punctures in the plums as removed. It was found necessary to exam- 

 ine each puncture carefull}'^, as a considerable number of punctures 

 and crescents were to be found in which no eggs were deposited. 

 The bottles were kept rather loosely corked and bits of filter paper 

 were placed in l)ottom of ])ottle to absorb any surplus moisture from 

 the plums. 



A review of the table shows that the greatest number of eggs 

 deposited by any one beetle was 430, in the case of No. 5, with 276 as 

 the minimum for No. 1, of practically the same age. It is also to be 

 noted that the egg-laying period lasted for eight}^ days. The death 

 of beetles Nos. 1,5, and 9, about August 1, would indicate that females 

 may live approximately twelve months and that the broods would 

 overlap somewhat. 



Tithle shemivg egg-la i/Ing record of tlie plum carrtilio {Conotrae]ieli(s 'iienupliar), 1902. 



