22 CLOVER. [1899 



same species under the synonym of foi/i, by Georg Ritter von Franen- 

 feld, which gives a few additional points useful for identification : — 



" Apion apricans, Schcenh.-'= — The larva is scarcely two millimetres 

 in length, thick, arched, and slightly resembling the ' white grub ' of 

 the Cockchafer in shape. The head is reddish, a little horny in 

 texture, and armed with two strong mandibles. On each side and 

 near the insertion of the mandible, a very small smooth eye, and below 

 this a small articulated style, which represents the antenna. The 

 three first segments of the body, those of the thorax, are sufficiently 

 well marked ; they do not bear feet, properly so called, but each has 

 beneath it two fleshy tubercles, which certainly take their place. The 

 segments of the abdomen are not well determined, beneath they are 

 mamillated ; the body is entirely glabrous, without colouring. . . . 



" The chrysalis is nearly as large as the larva, white, rather soft. 

 The head is bent downwards ; the wings, elytra, and feet are folded on 

 the sides and beneath ; the third pair of feet is separated from the 

 others by the elytra, and the antennae are not elbowed, and are laid 

 by the head with an upward direction (' en se dirigeant en haut '). 



" The larva lives at the base of the calyx of the flowers of the 

 common Trefoil (Trifolmm pratense). It gnaws the grain which is to 

 be found at this spot, and pierces a hole in the side of the flower, by 

 which to escape from it, and changes to the chrysalis amongst the 

 various flowers of the flower-head." 



In the short descriptions of the larva and pupa of the above species 

 {A. apricans), given under the synonym of A. fagi, L., in the ' Zoolo- 

 gische Miscellen ' of G. von Frauenfeld,f especial mention is made of 

 the " extraordinarily long " proboscis of the pupa, which reaches far 

 along the body, and is but little covered by the elytra. The other 

 details are so similar that they do not require repetition. 



The above observations of the life-history and early stages of A. 

 apricans are given in detail, as, so far as is known, these appear to be 

 so similar in the three kinds of weevil under consideration as to be 

 indistinguishable to all ordinary observers; and those of A. apricans 

 have been the most fully described. Similarly with regard to these 

 three species, when developed to perfect, that is beetle, state, it is 

 impossible for all but skilled observers to identify them as distinct 

 species trustworthily without some special guidance ; and as it is to 



* ' Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France,' deuxi^me serie, tome 

 premier, p. 66 : " Notice sur les Metamorphoses de V Apion apricans," par M. F. E. 

 Guerin-Meneville ; 15 Fevrier, 1843. So far as I am aware, this description, 

 although published so long ago, is still the fullest and best that we possess. The 

 paper is illustrated, but I omit references to the figures, as it was not necessary to 

 copy the i^late. — E. A. 0. 



t Georg Kitter von Frauenfeld in ' Verhandlungen der K.K. Zool.-botan. 

 Gesellschaft in Wien,' xvi. Band. 



