426 



Insect Pests. 



LlFE-HlSTORY. 



The beetle is oblong, pitchy, clothed with light brown and ashy 

 pubescence, closely covered with brown and pale yellowish-brown 

 scales, which give the elytra a tessellated appearence, with punctate 

 lines or stripe, the punctures with scales on each which make them 

 seem ocellated, the rostrum short and spatulate, the thorax granulated 

 (very coarsely in the centre); the legs are red or reddish-brown 

 with black tarsi. There are no wings. In length it varies from ^ 

 to J; inch. 



It appears in May and soon commences its work upon the canes. 

 It remains hidden under clods of earth and under the bottom leaves 

 during the day and only crawls over the plants at night. The habit 

 of falling to the ground at the least jar, noise or light, of a night, 





* 



[/'. Edenden. 



FIG. -280. FRUIT TREE OTIORHYXCHI. 



1, Otiorhynchus tenebricosus ; -2, 0. fiilcatu* ; 3, O. j . iV/'/'Cx. 



is very marked in this species. When the earth is moved during 

 the daytime they roll on to their backs, and owing to the venter 

 being dull earthy coloured it is then extremely difficult to see them, 

 as they remain quite motionless until they think the danger is 

 passed. 



At the end of summer the beetles lay their eggs on the ground, 

 and in a week or ten days the larvse hatch out and commence to 

 feed upon the roots of various plants. The grubs are white to dull 

 creamy-yellow, quite footless, curved and with a much wrinkled 

 skin which is slightly hairy, the head is distinct and brown. They 

 remain feeding on roots all the winter and in spring turn to pallid 

 pupte in the soil, from which the adults emerge in May. The larva 

 is rather fat and about J inch long. They feed on a variety of plants, 

 not only raspberry and other bush fruit, but various pot plants, 

 hops and innumerable weeds form their bill of fare. 



