16 



place from about the last of July to the fore part of August. About 

 the beginning of September the pupa-shell splits open in front,and the 

 perfect beetle works its way out of the ground, and flies abroad to take 

 its pleasure and enjoy this beautiful green world — which, be it remem- 

 bered, was made for the benefit of my little friends, the small six-leg- 

 ged Bugs, as well as for that of their more consequential brethren, the 

 Big Bugs with two legs. The sexes then probably couple, and likely 

 enough the males perish, as is known to be the case in several analo- 

 gous instances; but the females must undoubtedly survive the wintei' 

 in some snug retreat, sought out by them for this especial purpose. 

 Otherwise it is impossible to account satisfactorily for grapes being 

 punctured by this species of Snout-beetle in the June of the following 

 year. At all events I have repeatedly found dozens of different species 

 of Snout-beetles, very closely allied to the Grape Curculio, snugly en- 

 sconced in moss and other such matters in the early spring months, 

 before the universal World of Insects wakes up from its wintry sleep, 

 to hymn the praises of their Great Creator through all the joyous 

 months of summer. 



According to Colonel Forbes, of Cobden, Illinois, grapes stung 

 by the Curculio mostly drop from the vine. According to Mr. Mur- 

 ray, of Clay City, South Illinois, as quoted above, some fall off and 

 some remain until the time of ripening. According to Mr. Eead, of 

 Hudson, Ohio, large numbers of them hang on the bunch, as we have 

 seen above, until they are ripe. According to Mr. Wood, of Marietta, 

 Ohio, the berry "after awhile drops from the stem, before it is ripe 

 enough to cut, sometimes showilig a prematlire reddening." These 

 slight discrepancies may be readily accounted for by differences either 

 in soil, in climate, in season, or in the variety of grape especially re- 

 ferred to in each of the above cases. 



The larva of the Grape Curculio (fig. lb) is an elongate, legless grub, 

 four or live times as long as wide, nearly cylindrical behind, but tapered in 

 front towards the head. When fully extended, its length is about two-tenths 

 of an inch. The head is large, horny, and of a pale brownish yellow; the 

 jaws (mandibles) are chestnut brown, robust, acutely pointed, and gradually 

 curved inwards; and their general direction in repose is parallel with the 

 axis of the body. Along the .upper surface of the skull is a very distinct 

 longitudinal groove or suture. The color of the body is a semi-transparent, 

 yellowish white, with a darker stomach. Each segment of the body bears 

 upon each side a large, fleshy, acutely-pointed tubercle^ directed sideways; 

 by which character this larva may be distinguished at once from those either 

 of the Plum Curculio (Conotrctchelvfi nenuphar, Herbst) or of the Plum Gouger 

 {Anthonomus pnmtcida, Walsh); and in addition the last or anal segment 

 bears at each of its hind angles a similar tubercle, directed backward. 



