APPLE PESTS. 57 



Apple Blossom Weevil (Anthonomus pomorum).— 

 The larvie of the Apple Blofssom Weevil do an immense 

 amount of injury to the blossoms of apple and pear trees 

 in spring. The weevil measures only one-quarter of an 

 inch in length and one-eighth in breadth. It is usually of 

 a blackish coloui', covered with down of an ashy-grey hue. 

 It is provided with a rostrum, or snout, about half as long 

 as its body. The w^eevils hibernate in chinks and crevices 

 of the bark of various trees during the winter. Directly 

 warm spring weather sets in, about the end of March, the 

 weevils find their way to the blossom buds of both apple 



APPLE BLOSSOM WEEVIL (ANTHONOMUS P0M015UM). 



and pear trees. The female then deftly bores a hole with 

 her snout in the flower-bud, and deposits an egg therein. 

 The egg hatches in about six to nine days, producing a 

 white maggot without feet, and about one-third of .an inch 

 long. The maggot lies in the bud and devours the stamens 

 and pistil, causing the petals to wither and the bud gene- 

 rally to change to a rusty hue and decay. In the course 

 of a fortnight the larvae change into pupae, in which state 

 they remain from seven to ten days, then appear as per- 

 fect weevils, escaping through the hole bored in the bud 

 by their parent. It is not known for certain whether the 

 young weevils feed upon the foliage or not. 



