■'^"""J PEAR-SHAPED WEEVILS. 21 



pubescence very slight or absent, are chiefly found on species of 

 Trifolium.'^'^ 



The three kinds most injurious to Red or Purple Clover {Trifolmm, 

 prate7ise) are, first, Apion apHcans, Herbst., known also as A. fmji, 

 Kirby, and A. flavifemoratum, Kirby ; Becondi, Apion assimile, Kirby, 

 which formerly stood as a distinct species, but which now, from its 

 very slight variations from the species above mentioned, is considered 

 by some of our leading coleopterists should only take rank as a variety ; 

 and third, Apion tnfolii, Linn., which is rather smaller than apricans, 

 and has the proboscis much less curved. 



These kinds, so far as I have seen from specimens sent, and also 

 as noted by Dr. Taschenberg,t are similar in their life-history ; and as 

 the above-named kinds or varieties may all be present together, it is 

 almost impossible on the broad scale of field cultivation to say which 

 of the kinds may be doing mischief, beyond those of which specimens 

 are sent for identification. 



The life-history of the Purple or Red Clover Weevil, which it 

 appears may be taken as that also of assimile and trifolii, may be given 

 shortly as follows. The beetles live through the winter, and when the 

 Clover has run up to blossom the female weevils lay their eggs in the 

 flowering-heads. The maggots which hatch from these eggs pass 

 through the calyx to the forming seed, on which they feed. They are 

 stated to make their way into the seed and feed on it until it is con- 

 sumed ; then they make their way out, and turn to chrysalids in the 

 flower-head amongst the dying blossoms. (In my own examinations 

 I have found little maggots free in the flower-heads.) These are little 

 fleshy larv* of the shape figured at p. 20, with rather horny heads, 

 and scarcely a line in length, and legless. They usually lie somewhat 

 curved together. 



The chrysalids may develop into weevils in about a fortnight in 

 summer, and thus furnish a second brood, of which the beetles attack 

 the Clover leafage, sometimes to a very injurious extent, and when the 

 flower-heads of the second crop of Clover are sufficiently advanced for 

 infestation, set attack on foot precisely as on the earlier crop, excepting 

 that it may remain in chrysalis state throughout the winter. 



The following detailed description of the larva and pupa of Apion 

 apricans by Mons. Guerin-Meneville is given for service where minute 

 reference is required, to which is added some further description of the 



* In many points of technical description of characteristic differences between 

 the beetles, and also with regard to considerations of A. assimile, Kirby, being now 

 considered by various qualified writers as being not a separate species, but one with 

 A. apricans, I am much indebted to information given in ' The Coleoptera of the 

 British Islands,' vol. v. pp. 145 and 148, 149, by the Bev. Canon W. F.owler, 

 Secretary of the Entomological Society of London. 



t 'Praktische Insektenkunde,' pt. ii. p. 181. 



