135 



posterior extremity. The length, exclusive of the snout, is about one- 

 third of an inch; width across the base of the elytra about half the 

 length. 



Anthonomus quadrigibbus. Say. (Apple-curculio). 



This curculio is readily distinguished 

 by the following characters : It is usu- 

 ally of a uniform rusty brown, but occa- 

 sionally the thorax and front portion of 

 the wing-cases are ash-gray; four tuber- 

 cles on the wing-cases, two on each, sit- 

 uated on the posterior half on a line nearly 

 parallel with the middle suture; the 

 snout varies in length from half to the 

 length of the body according to the sex. 

 Length, exclusive of the snout, from a 

 * * little over one-twentieth to two-twen- 



Anthonomus, 4-gibbus, Say. Apple- . . c , xr<„„™ p^^ocav Pilmr 



curculio ; a, natural size ; b, c, side and tieths of an inch. V rom froteSSOl Klley, 



back view, enlarged. who hag studied the preparatory states 



of this species, we learn the following facts: The female punctures 

 the fruit with her snout, enlarging the incision at the bottom, and 

 having deposited an egg, thrusts it to the bottom, I presume, as does 

 the plum curculio, with her snout. This egg is about four-hundredths 

 of an inch long, the diameter being about one-third the length, and of a 

 yellowish color. As soon as the larva is hatched it usually goes to the 

 heart of the fruit and feeds around the core, producing a rust-red ex- 

 crement. When fully grown it is about two-fifths of an inch in 

 length, soft and white, curved and transversely wrinkled, largest in 

 the middle ; head almost perpendicular, yellowish-brown with darker 

 mandibles; it has no bristles like the larva of the plum curculio ex- 

 cept a few weak ones on the first joint beneath; a bluish line is some- 

 times visible along the back ; is footless. 



Unlike the plum curculio this species undergoes its transformations 

 in the fruit it inhabits, which does not prematurely fall as is usual 

 with that infested by the plum curculio or the codling-moth worm. 



The wild crab appears to be its favorite fruit, but it also attacks the 

 cultivated apple, occasionally doing considerable injury ;— the pear 

 also appears to be subject to its attacks. 



It appears to be more common in the Southern part of the State 

 than the Central or Northern portions. 



It winters in the perfect or beetle state, and makes its appearance 

 and commences work about the latter part of May and from that time 

 probably until July. 



So far no sufficient experiments appear to have been made in refer- 

 ence to remedies suggested to enable us to decide in regard to their 

 value. If the infested fruit could be gathered and destroyed this 

 would probably afford the most effectual remedy, unless it can be as- 

 certained that some varieties are not subject to their attacks. 



Spec. char. Imago.— Snout long, nearly equal in length to the body, 

 slender and cylindrical, and apparently slightly striate above ; anten- 

 nae which are elbowed and clubbed at the end as usual, are inserted 



