Balaninus.} RHYNCHOPHORA. 383 
fruits drop ; it then makes its way into the ground and changes to a 
pupa, whence it emerges as a perfect insect in the following spring ; 
certain of the smaller species, e.g. B. salicivorus (brassice), do not 
attack nuts or kernels of fruits but form galls, or lay their eggs in the 
galls formed by certain Hymenoptera, on the under side of willow leaves, 
in which the larva feeds ; when the leaves fall it makes its way into fe 
earth and there undergoes its transformations. 
The sexual characters are variable and consist in differences in the 
length of the rostrum and the insertion of the antenne, and in the 
presence of impressions or tufts of hairs on the anal segment of the 
males. 
The British species may be distinguished roughly by the following 
table; the synonymy, however, of some of them is very confused ; I 
have followed Bedel in dropping the name glandium, Marsh, altogether, 
for, as observed by him (l.c., p. 189), it is applied by Mr. G. R. Water- 
house to B. nucum, L., and by M. Desbrochers des Loges to B. venosus, 
Grav., whereas in the opinion of M. Bedel it must be referred without 
doubt to B. turbatus, Gyll.; B. turbatus has been considered by many 
authors as synonymous with the Curculio tessellatus of Fourcroy, but 
Bedel points out that it is impossible even to determine the genus to 
which this insect must be referred, much less the species. 
I. Club of antennz long and pointed with the first two 
joints of equal size; tarsal claws appendiculate for 
half their length; upper surface variegated with 
scales ; size, as a rule, much larger (Balaninus, 
tags 
i. acae ferruginous; upper surface (at all 
events in undenuded specimens) brown or red, 
variegated with greyish or light greyish-brown 
scales. 
1. All the femora armed with a strong triangular 
tooth ; size larger. 
A. Scutellum narrow; rostrum shorter, not as 
long as body, more thickened at base . . B. VENOsUs, Grav. 
B. Scutellum broad; rostrum longer and more 
slender, about as long as body, less thickened 
at base. 
a. Last joints of funiculus of antenne pyriform, 
stout, and not much longer than broad, en- 
tirely clothed with blackish hairs. . B. nucum, L. 
b. Last joints of funiculus of antennze elongate, 
slender and much longer than broad, with 
hairsat apexonly . . - B. TuRBATUs, Gyll. 
2. Posterior femora with a small but distinct, 
sharp, tooth ; size small; rostrum and antennze 
letiger ) ee APO. Te eos) ae Bicsenunm, Steph: 
(cerasorum, Herbst.) 
3. All the femora simple; size small; rostrum and 
antenne shorter . . B. RUBIDUS, Gy/ll, 
ii. Rostrum black, at all events fr om base to inser tion 
of antennez, sometimes slightly reddish in front ; 
