The Spotted Larinus 



called him an artichoke-thief. The group of 

 the Larini, in fact, establishes its offspring 

 in the fleshy base of the flowers of the 

 Carduaceae, the thistle, the cotton-thistle, the 

 centaury, the carline thistle and others, 

 which, in structure and flavour, recall more 

 or less remotely the artichoke of our tables. 

 This is its special province. The Larinus is 

 charged with the thinning out of the fierce, 

 encroaching thistle. 



Glance at the pink, white or blue heads of 

 a Carduacea. Long-beaked insects swarm, 

 awkwardly diving into the mass of florets. 

 What are they? Larini. Open the head, 

 split its fleshy base. Surprised by the air 

 and by the light, plump, white, legless grubs 

 sway to and fro, each isolated in a small 

 recess. What are these grubs? Larinus- 

 larvae. 



Here accuracy ;calls for a reservation. A 

 few other Weevils, related to those whose 

 history we are considering, are also partial, 

 on behalf of their family, to the fleshy 

 receptacles with the artichoke flavour. No 

 matter: the species that take the lead in 

 numbers, frequency and handsome pro- 

 portions are the authorized exterminators of 

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