1838. HOUSE— No. 72. 81 



the substance of Prof. Peck's communication respecting this insect. 

 I would observe that these insects are very abundant in the perfect 

 state during the months of April and May, from which it is to be 

 inferred that they secrete themselves somewhere during the winter, 

 and deposit their eggs in the spring, or perhaps do not usually 

 leave the trees before spring. 



Rhynchcenus JsTenuphar, was scientifically described and figured 

 by Herbst in the year 1797. Its history has been investigated by 

 several American writers, particularly by Prof. Peck, who called it 

 R. cerasi. The plum and cherry trees have, for a long time, 

 been annually disfigured by irregular swellings on the young branches. 

 These swellings or warts are diseases of the bark, caused by the punc- 

 tures of the weevil and the residence of the grubs. The sap-vessels 

 being wounded and irritated by the insects, throw out an increased 

 quantity of fluid, this is re-absorbed by the bark, which is conse- 

 quently swollen and thickened in substance ; the over-stretched cuti- 

 cle bursts, and the swelling becomes irregular, granulated, and full of 

 fissures. The local exhaustion of sap, and the pressure of the tu- 

 mors, compress the wood, and the limb gradually perishes above 

 the seat of the disease. From one of the warts of the cherry 

 tree Prof. Peck obtained the weevils in their perfect state, which 

 proved to be the same insects whose larvae were known to cause the 

 premature ripening and fall of peaches, apricots, and plums. From 

 the latter fruit I bred the same insect, differing in no respect from 

 that described by Prof. Peck. A paper by Mr. Tilton on this in- 

 sect was published by Dr. Mease, in his Domestic Encyclopedia, 

 from which it has been repeatedly republished in the various horticul- 

 tural treatises of this country. 



Melsheimer, in his catalogue, observes, that the larva lives under 

 the bark of the peach-tree. We have Prof. Peck's authority for 

 the fact that it is the cause of the excrescences on the cherry-tree, 

 and further observation has proved that the same insect deforms the 

 limbs of the plum-tree. According to several memoranda the 

 perfect insect is found during most of the spring and summer months. 

 Its first appearance is in May, when it begins puncturing the small fruit 

 with its rostrum, and deposits in the puncture thus made an egg, which 

 in a short time becomes a larva or maggot. This worm eats into 

 II 



