120 THE STKAW r.l':i<K\- WEEVIL IN MINNESOTA 



the others only l)y a small hlackberry patch, little injiirv was shown. 

 Many fields were visited and in all cases those beds from which 

 the first picking was to be made were much less injured. This was 

 beautifully shown in one particular field at Hopkins, where there 

 were three adjoining plots, one, two and three years old, respect- 

 ively. In plot one, wdiere the first picking was being done, no 

 trace of the weexil could be found. In plot two, one year older, 

 where the second picking was being made, 25 par cent of the buds 

 appeared cut. In the adjoining plot, number three, three years old, 

 90 per cent of the buds were cut. This is in accord with the hiber- 

 nation habits of the adults, which winter o\er in strawberrv beds. 



INTERMITTENCE OF THE WEEVIL. 



Mr. Chittenden remarks: "It is fortunate also that this weevil 

 like so man}- other troublesome species is more or less intermittent 

 in the character of its attack, appearing in great abundance for one 

 or more seasons in certain districts and doing a vast amount of 

 damage, and then without any apparent reason relapsing into com- 

 parati^•e obscurity only to reappear after a number of years and in 

 perhaps some new locality." 



At Hopkins, the weevil has been destructive for the last three 

 seasons and there is e\erv indication that it will continue to be 

 ])resent. From a stud}- of the hibernation habits, the intermittence 

 of this insect may perhaps be explained 1)}- the fact that in some 

 localities a farmer mav ha\e all old beds, Avhich would be plowed 

 up at the end of the season. As the beetles migrate slowly, the 

 new beds would be comparatively free, because most of the weevils 

 were prol)ably killed by lieing plowed under the previous season. 



Another factor is the character of the season, as discussed in 

 a previous paragraph. In fine weather, A\hen the blossom buds 

 expand rapidly, the weevil is probably not able to cut so many buds 

 because of lack of time. The following si:)ring may be cold and 

 rainv. and. ha\ing more time, the wee\il may cause much more 

 injur}-. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



To rear the parasites successfull}-, tlu' buds must not be allowed 

 to drv up, since the buds normally lie on the ground and remain 

 moist. Two fern pots, one a little snialler than the other, answered 

 the purpose very well. The smaller one is placed within the larger 

 one so that the bottoms are opposite. The cre\ice is filled with 



