110 THE STRA\NI!KKRV WEENIL IX MINNESOTA 



LOSSES. 



In \'ir,L:inia and some of tin- other southern states, manv truck 

 growers have abandoned the growing of strawberries because of 

 the work of the weevil. In Minnesota, one fanner reports a vield 

 of twenty-two crates in 1916, while from a similar patch he obtained 

 one hundred twent}--fi\e crates in 1*^2. Although some of this loss 

 was due to winter-killing of the ])lants, the v^eevil is responsible for 

 the greater share. 



FOOD PLANTS. 

 Plants Found On. 



The weevil was found cutting the ])uds of the wild strawberry, 

 dewberry and red raspberry, especially the raspberry (Pig. 2, PI. 

 II), while l)lackberries near by were not injured. Weevils were 

 also found in the flowers of the Horsemint (Monarda fistulosaj 

 growing in the strawberry patch, on July 26. 1916. Of the culti- 

 vated strawberries, the most widely grown in Minnesota is the 

 Dunlap. which sufl^ers severely from the ra\ages of the weevil, 

 since it is a staminate variety. As is well known, the weevil is 

 restricted to the staminate varieties, particularlv those which fur- 

 nish considerable pollen, since this constitutes the chief food of both 

 lar\ae and adults. 



Effect on Everbearing Strawberries. 



On July '-', the weexil was reported cutting the buds of ever- 

 bearing strawberries. Upon examination, beetles, as well as eggs 

 and larvae, were fotmd in the cut Inids. Hiis presented an inter- 

 esting case, for at the time it was difficult to tell whether the hiber- 

 nating weevils or those just emerging were responsible for the 

 damage. Cages were set up in the field and in the insectary o\er 

 plants, some with hibernating weevils and others with recently 

 emerged ones. Four mature eggs were found in a weevil discov- 

 ered in the fiehl on julv 9. On Jlily 24. the weevils had almost 

 entirely disappeared from the plants, and no fresh buds were found 

 cut. although an egg was found in a l)ud lying on the ground. The 

 fact that this ])articular everbearing ])atch was close to an infested 

 June-bearing patch accounts for the presence of the Avee\ils on 

 July 9. That the wee\-ils of the new l)rood under the cages are 

 unable to oviposit the same summer was ]:> roved experimentally. 

 for no eggs were found upon dissection. They appeared to feed 

 \ oraciously, puncturing and withering the buds, which, however, 



