THE SO-CALLED ‘‘ CURLEW BUG.”’ 57 
by the beetle of this species to chufa. The larva was at this time 
operating in the crown of the plant at the base of the leaves. Jt was 
observed that the insect was capable of doimg considerable damage 
even at this early date, as crowns were then found completely honey- 
combed. OnJune 28 Mr.I.J.Condit, detailed by Dr. ¥. Hi. Chittenden, 
in charge of Truck Crop and Stored Product Insect Investigations for 
the purpose of obtaining material, visited the infested locality and ob- 
tained numerous specimens of hibernated beetles and larve. It was 
then estimated that the damage would amount to about 20 per cent of 
the crop. June 30 a larva was found nearly grown. Eggs were 
also obtained at that time and until the end of the first week of 
August. Search was made for the natural food of the insects, and 
this was found in Frank’s sedge (Carex frankit). 
May 22,1907, Mr. R. I. Smith sent this species from Atlanta, Ga., 
with the statement that these bilibugs were reported as quite abun- 
dant and domg great damage to corn at Statesboro, Ga. They had 
been present at the date of that writing for about three weeks. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
As will be observed by consulting the accompanying map (fig. 17) 
this species covers a wider range than Sphenophorus maidis. It seems 
to center in point of abundance in eastern North Carolina, extend- 
~~ 
AANA. 
© 
+ 
s 
‘ 
‘ 
' 
' 
ahaa! 
, 
' 
‘ 
@= SRHEN. CALLOSUS 
+= SPHEN. MAIDIS 

Fic. 17,—Map showing distribution of- the ‘‘curlew bug”’ (Sphenophorus callosus) and the maize 
billbug (Sphenophorus maidis). (Original.) 
ing southward to southern Florida, northward to Maryland, thence 
northwest to northwestern Jllinois, southwest to extreme south- 
eastern Arizona and northern Mexico, and eastward to the Gulf 
coast. 
24091°—Bull. 95, pt 4—12 

2 
