192 



GENUINE SNOUT-REETLES. 



and exposes the dark slate-colored body, which is remarkable for 

 its exceedingly firm texture. In fact this insect is so hard that a 

 common insect pin Avill not perforate it. The beetle bores little 

 holes into the leaf and flower stems of the i)lant. depositing one 

 agg in each, from which a white, grub-like larva hatches, which 

 deyours the plant tissue. The insect is not common in Minne- 

 sota. According to Smith, Webster and others., wdienever the 

 leaves are regularly cut for the market but little trouble is ex- 

 perienced; old leaves should be removed and destroyed, so that 



Fig. 203. — Lixus coacavus, Hay. After 

 Webster. 



Fig. 204. — Lixus from Europe. After 

 Brehtn. 



none of them remain after midsimimer. Several species of LLviis 

 occur in our state; a European species found in aquatic plants is 

 shown in Fig. 204. 



Among the large numl)er of snout-beetles that follow the 

 above genus in the classification but few are really injurious, al- 

 though they occur in the flowers of such plants as the strawber- 

 ries, blackberries, raspberries, and others. Perhaps two species of 

 MagdaUs are an exception, as the one (.1/. acnesccns Lee.) is fre- 

 quently found u|)on the apple-tree, and the other ( .1/. olyra Hbst.) 



