INSECTS INJURIOUS TO BEANS AND PEAS 



285 



moist seed and, like the preceding species, its work in stored beans 

 seems to cause decomposition and a consequent rise of temperature. 

 The life history and remedial measures are similar to those of the 

 bean-weevil. 



The European Bean- 

 weevil* was imported 

 into New York and 

 New Jersey in 1870 ? at 

 the Columbian Ex- 

 position at Chicago in 

 1893, and has been ob- 

 served at College Sta- 

 tion, Texas, but does 

 not seem to have be- 

 come established in 

 this country. It close- 

 ly resembles the pea- 

 weevil in appearance 

 and life history. 



FIG. 244. The four-spotted bean-weevil : a, cow- 

 pea, showing holes made by weevils in their 

 escape from seed, also eggs deposited on surface; 

 b, egg; c, young larva; d, head of same; e, proth- 

 oracic leg;/, spine above spiracle of first abdom- 

 inal segment a, twice natural size; 6, /, greatly 

 enlarged. (After Chittenden, U. S. Dept. Agr.) 



The Bean Leaf-beetle f 



Small yellowish or reddish beetles, marked with black, as 

 shown in Fig. 245, and from one-seventh to one-fifth inch 

 long, are often found eating the foliage of beans, and are commonly 

 known as Bean Leaf-beetles. The species occurs throughout the 

 United States east of the Rockies, but has been chiefly injurious 

 in the Middle and Southern States. Besides beans, the beetles 

 feed upon cow-peas and various native plants such as beggar- 

 weed or tickseed, tick trefoil (Meibomia), bush-clover (Lespedeza) , 

 and hog-peanut (Falcata). They usually become quite numerous 

 before they are observed, for during most of the day they rest or 

 feed on the under sides of the leaves. They are sluggish and 

 seldom fly, and when disturbed often drop to the ground, though 

 they soon crawl back to the plant. Large round holes are eaten 

 in the foliage until finally nothing but the veins and midrib of a 



* Bruchus rufimanus Boh. 



t Ceratoma trifurcata Forst. Family Chrysomelidce. 



