47 



pupating near the portion upon Avhich the hist feeding was accom- 

 plished. 



The pupa is short and robust, about 4 mm. in length, and nearly 

 3 mm. in breadth at its widest part. In color it is pale amber, with 

 dark-brown eyes. The snout lies close to the ventral surface of the 

 body. Above, the wing pads are conspicuous, and below them the 

 legs protrude. The antennae, arising from the snout, are folded 

 below the head, and appear dorsally as knobbed appendages at the 

 sides of the wing j^ads. The abdomen tapers to a point behind and, 

 the outer segments being free, the tip can Avriggle nervously, as it 

 often does Avhen the pupa is disturbed. The pupa is covered with 

 tubercles, from each of which arises a long hair or spine. A short 

 time before transformation to adult the color becomes much darker, 

 the abdomen, however, retaining the original hue. The pupal stage 

 occupies from six to ten days. Upon the full development of the 

 adult the cell is broken open and the weevil emerges into the cavity 

 of the pepper pod. remaining there until hardened, after which it 

 cuts its Avay out through the pod wall (PI. I. fig. 2, d). The color 

 immediately upon emergence is light yellow, but in a few days this 

 changes to a darker yellow-brown, becoming, finally, almost black, 

 with the exception of the bases of the femora, Avhich are orange. 



FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS. 



So far as is known to the writer, this insect has no other food 

 plants than peppers; yet it is certain that it can exist upon at least 

 three varieties of the plant, including the common '" sweet pepper " 

 and two varieties of the so-called '' hot pepper." The weevil may 

 also, perhaps, live upon a wild pepper which is common in wooded 

 localities in southwestern Texas. The fruit of this plant, a small 

 red berry, has an exceptionally pungent flavor and is used rather 

 extensively in the manufacture of a variety of pepper sauce. There 

 is a possibility that this " wild pepper " may prove to be the original 

 food plant, but thus far the weevil has not been observed feeding 

 upon it. 



The young larva, when first hatched, feeds upon the soft, pulpy 

 tissue forming the interior lining of the pod. This food it can obtain 

 in abundance, since it is here, in the majority of cases, that the egg 

 is deposited. Usually the larva does not attack the seeds until it 

 has attained considerable groAvth, except in those cases in which the 

 egg is placed in a cavity excavated for its reception in a seed. The 

 seeds, extending out laterally in a cluster from the bases of attach- 

 ment, offer secure lodgment for the larva, which eats away the outer 

 ?dges and excavates the interior, thereby causing serious injury 

 (PL I, fig. 2, c). The adult weevils appear to feed equally well in the 

 fruit at different stages of gi-owth, although the small, tender buds 



