CUR 



176 



CUR 



ceous perennials. Offsets, 

 peat. 



Loam and | whole neighbourhood. Our own ob- 

 servation inclines us to the belief that 



CURCULIO. This genus of Beetle, this insect emigrates just in proportion 

 popularly known as Weevils, are de- as it finds in more or less abundance 

 structive to fruit, as nuts, nectarines, the tender fruit for depositing its eggs. 

 and poaches, as well as to peas, &c. 1 Very rarely do we see more than one 



There are many species. 



puncture in a plum, and, if the insects 



C. hctuleti. Vine Weevil. Colour, are abundant, the trees of a single spot 



steel-blue. Attacks the leaf, rolling it 

 up as a nest for its eggs. The pear is 

 liable to its attacks also. Appears in 

 June and July. 



The species of Curculio, which is 

 more fatal in its attack than any other, 

 is popularly known as the Plum- 

 Weevil. We copy the following article 

 on the subject, from the Fruits and 

 Fruit Trees of America 



not afford a sufficient number for 

 the purpose ; then there is little doubt 

 (as we have seen them flying through 

 the air,) that the insect flies farther in 

 search of a larger supply. But usually, 

 we think it remains nearly in the same 

 neighbourhood, or migrates but slowly. 

 " About a week or two after the 

 blossoms have fallen from the trees, if 

 we examine the fruit of the plum in a 



"The Curculio, or Plum-Weevil, | district where this insect abounds, we 

 [Rhynchanus Nenuphar,) is the uncom- ' shall find the small, newly formed fruit. 



promising foe of all smooth-stone fruits 

 The cultivator of the Plum, the Nec- 

 tarine, and the Apricot, in many parts 

 of the country, after a flattering pro- 

 fusion of snowy blossoms and an abun- 



beginning to be punctured by the pro- 

 boscis of the Plum-Weevil. The insect 

 is so small and shy, that unless we 

 watch closely it is very likely to escape 

 our notice. But if we strike or shake 



dant promise in the thickly set young ; the tree suddenly, it will fall in con- 

 crops of fruit, has the frequent mortifi- 1 siderable numbers on the ground, 

 cation of seeing nearly all, or indeed, | drawn up as if dead, and resembling a 

 often the whole crop, fall from the j small raisin, or, perhaps more nearly, 

 trees when half or two-thirds grown. j a ripe hemp seed. From the first of 

 " If he examines these falling fruits, April until August, this insect may be 

 he will perceive on the surface of each, found, though we think its depreda- 

 not far from the stalk, a small semi- : tions on fruit, and indeed its appear- 

 circular scar. This star is the crescent- 1 ance in any quantity, is confined to the 

 shaped insignia of that little Turk, the month of May in this climate. In 

 Curculio; an insect so small, as per- j places where it is very abundant, it 

 haps, to have escaped his observation \ also attacks to some extent the cherry, 

 for years, unless particularly drawn to j the peach, and even the apple, 

 it, but which nevertheless appropriates ' " Early in July the punctured plums 

 to himself the whole product of a tree, ' begin to fall rapidly from the tree. 



or an orchard of a thousand trees, 



" The habits of this Curculio, or 

 Plum- Weevil, are not yet fully and en- 

 tirely ascertained. But careful ob- 

 servation has resulted in establishing 

 the following points in its history. 



" The Plum-Weevil is a small, dark 

 brown beetle, with spots of white, 

 yellow, and black. Its length is 

 scarcely one-fifth of an inch. On its 

 back are two black humps, and it is 



The egg deposited in each, at first in- 

 visible, has become a white grub or 

 larva, which slowly eats its way to- 

 wards the stone or pit. As soon as it 

 reaches this point, the fruit falls to the 

 ground. Here, if left undisturbed, the 

 grub soon finds its way into the soil. 



" There, according to most culti- 

 vators of fruit, and to our own observa- 

 tions, the grubs or larva? remain till the 

 ensuina spring, when in their perfect 



furnished with a pretty long, curved i form they again emerge as beetles and 

 throat and snout, which, when it is at i renew their ravages on the fruit. It is 

 rest, is bent between the forelegs. It | true that Harris, and some other natu- 

 is also [irovided with two wings with ' ralists, have proved that the insect does 

 which it flies through the air. How far j sometimes undergo its final translbrma- 

 this insect flies is yet a disputed point, ] tion and emerge from the ground in 

 some cultivators afiirming that it scarce- I twenty days, but we are inclined to the 

 ly goes farther than a single tree, and i opinion that this only takes place with 

 others believing that it flies over a a small portion of the brood, which, 



