INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CLOVER AND ALFALFA 



193 



noticeable in the day, when they lie protected around the base 

 of the plant, lying curled up head to tail. The injury to the 

 foliage is quite characteristic, the edges of the leaves being eaten 

 in a regular manner as shown in Fig. 162. When full grown the 

 larva buries itself just under the surface of the soil and makes 

 an oval cell, in which it spins a delicate cocoon consisting of a 

 coarse network of pale yellow threads, which later turn brown, 



FIG. 162. Clover leaf -weevil (Phytonomus pundatus Fabr.) : a, egg magnified 

 and natural size; 666 6, larvae; c, recently hatched larva; d, head of 

 larva; e, jaws of the same; /, cocoon; g, same magnified to show the 

 meshes; h, pupa; i, weevil, natural size; j, the same magnified; &, top 

 view of the beetle; I, tarsus and claws ,of the beetle; m, antenna of the 

 beetle. (After Riley.) 



as shown in Fig. 162. Occasionally the cocoon is made on the 

 surface or among the bases of the stems. In this the pupal 

 stage is passed, lasting two or three weeks; the beetles being 

 most common in July and August. The damage which the 

 beetles do to the second crop of clover is fully equal that done 

 by the larvae to the first, and is more apparent because the soil 

 is then dry and the plant grows more slowly. 



