216 PRODUCTIVE FARMING 



long snout or beak (Fig. 133). When the fruit is very small 

 the adult beetle cuts a crescent-shaped opening in the skin 

 with its jaws, and lays an egg in it. A grub-like larva hatches 

 from this and burrows into the fruit, eating its way to the 

 seed. This attack is likely to cause the peaches or plums to 

 fall to the ground. When the larva is fully fed it leaves the 

 fruit and forms its pupa in the ground. 



Apples, pears, and peaches are frequently bitten by the 

 adult curculio and the wounds thus formed may make the 

 fruit become deformed, as in Fig. 134. 



Fig. 133. — Plum-curculio: a, larva; b, pupa; c, adult; d, beetle at work on a young 

 plum, showing a crescent mark. (From Smith's "Economic Entomology.") 



It is difficult to poison the larva because it is inside the 

 fruit. The adult insect may be poisoned by spraying while 

 it is feeding upon buds and young leaves in the orchard 

 before laying the eggs. Another time to poison the adult 

 is when the fruit is being eaten to make a place for the eggs. 

 Hogs, sheep, and poultry in the orchard, during the time the 

 early fruits are falling, will destroy many of the curculio 

 larvae. This will probably reduce the injury next season. 

 Some fruit growers spread sheets or other receptacles under 

 the trees and jar the trees to shake off the beetles before they 

 lay their eggs. They lie quiet after being jarred off and are 

 easily gathered up and destroyed. This should be done very 



