584 ^"E\V YORK STATE MUSEUM 



bear or chestnut scrui:i oaks. This species was noticed by Ur Harris wlio 

 states that it is one of the most common nut weevils known to him, and 

 he adds that it is very common in hazelnuts, chestnuts and acorns. ])r 

 I'itch states that hickory nuts are seldom affected by worms, referrinj.; to 

 this species or perhaps also to allied forms, and adds that they are much 

 more frequently met with in hazelnuts, chestnuts and acorns. He failed to 

 rear any of these insects as was also the case with Or Harris. Dr I'ackartl 

 states that Professor Riley bred this species from a lot of acorns of 

 Que reus o- rise a, received from Fort (irant Ariz., Juh' 26, 1SS2, and 

 Messrs Howartl and Rile\' record breeilin^ this species from a lot of acorns 

 from which B. uniformis Lee. was obtained. Dr Packard also pub- 

 lished a note of Professor Riley's to the effect that this species breeds 

 entireh' on hickory nuts, while Mr Harrinoton states that in the nriohbor- 

 hood of ( )ttawa Can., it is never found on hickory but frequents the hazel 

 almost entirel)', being very numerous on these bushes in some years. 



Description. Ihis species has been tlescribcd by 1 )r Harris as follows: 



Its form is oval, its ground color dark brown; it is clothed with very 

 short rust-yellow flattened hairs which more or less conceal its original color, 

 and are disposed in spots on its wing covers. The snout is brown and pol- 

 ished, longer than the whole body, as slender as a bristle, of equal thick- 

 ness from one end to another, and slightly curved ;' it bears the lofig elbowed 

 antennae, which are as fine as a hair, just behind the middle. This beetle 

 measures nearly 3/,o of an inch in length, e.xclusiv(^ of the snout. | -SVr pi. 

 17, fig. 19, 20J 



The lar\a or grub of this species has been desribed b)' Dr Riley as 

 yellow, with reddish brown head and dark brown mandibles. 



Life history. Dr Harris records finding this species paired on hazelnut 

 bushes in [ulv, at which time the eggs are probably laid. He adils that 

 others ap[)ear in September and October, and must pass the winter con- 

 cealed in some secure place. Mr Glover states that there are said to be 

 two broods, the last one probably hibernating in the earth, and re])orts Mr 

 Akhurst of Brooklyn as observing that these insects sometimes remain 

 in the larval condition over one season. Mr \V H. Patton states that 

 the following species of Balaninus have been reared from acorns: B. 



