59 



Table XIII. — Age of beginning ovi^wsition. 



WEEVILS OP FIRST GENERATION, 1903. 



WEEVILS BRED IN PALL OF 1902. 



The average time of 5.5 days, as shown bj^ the first generatiou, is 

 probably about a day and a half longer than the minimum average 

 period during the hottest weather, while the 9-day average found from 

 September 4 to November 11 is considerably short of the maximum 

 average just before hibernation. 



EXAMINATION OF SQUARES BEFORE OVIPOSITION. 



In the course of a great many observations upon oviposition it 

 was found that females almost invariablj^ examine a' square quite 

 carefully before they will begin a puncture for egg deposition. This 

 examination is conducted entirely by means of senses located in the 

 antenna; and not at all by siglit. In fact, the sense of sight appears 

 to be of comparatively small use to the weevil. 



In regard to the actual time spent in the work of examination before 

 beginning a j)uncture GO observations were recorded. These show 

 that the average time is over two minutes. 



This examination of squares is made by females onl}^ when thej^ 

 intend to oviposit. Males have never been observed acting in this 

 wa3% nor do females generally do so when their only object is to feed. 



SELECTION OF UNINFESTED SQUARES FOR OVIPOSITION. 



So unerring is the sense by which examination is made that in a 

 few cases it was able to discover an infested condition no external sign 

 of which was visible to the writer's eye. A female which was under 

 close observation examined the square given her in the usual manner, 

 but though evidentl}- searching for a place to ovij)Osit and aii.xious to 



