400 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



July 8, I ; July 19, i ; July 27, 5; Aug. 2, i ; Aug. 9, 6; Aug. 21, 11 ; Sep 

 6, 4; Sep. 18, 2; Oct. 23, 6. It was also taken in April and May 1902. 

 It will be noted that in 1901 no collecting was done in ]\Iay, and it is the 

 writer's impression that the insect was not very abundant, as was the case in 

 1902, in that locality prior to the beginning of our operations. A study 

 of this record shows that the beetles were more abundant from the 13th 

 to the 26th of June, and from the 9th to the latter part of August. The 

 tendency of this insect to breed more or less throughout the season is also 

 indicated by the condition of a badly infested twig, received by the writer 

 the last of August 1902. This small piece, about 3 inches long, was almost 

 honeycombed by the insect and contained numerous pupal cells in each 

 of which there was a pupa in a more or less advanced stage of develop- 

 ment. One insect had emerged in transit, another one Avas almost ready to 

 appear and the remainder would probably have forsaken their retreats 

 before the approach of cold weather. It is interesting in this connection to 

 note that Dr Hopkins found pupae in spruce bark June 27, and in white 

 pine July 13. in yellow pine July 11, showing that some of the insects must 

 develop later than early May. The later captures represent scattering 

 individuals, and it would appear as though this insect bred more or less 

 throughout the season, though as stated by the later writers, the principal 

 brood may appear in May and early June. 



Food plants. This weevil is well known as a serious enemy to most of 

 our native pines and severe injury to spruces has been recorded by several 

 writers. 



Natural enemies. Dr Fitch has stated that after the infested shoot 

 becomes withered and dry in midsummer one may observe that the bark 

 covering the cells has been broken and peeled off in spots and that all its 

 lower parts are torn away. Newly perforated holes larger than the bur- 

 rows of this insect may be observed, here and there, in the wood. These, 

 he states, are the work of small birds which are very efficient in devouring 

 the larvae and the pupae of this pest. Dr Riley in his report for 1885 

 states that the grubs or larvae are exposed to many dangers from carniv- 



