The Life of the Weevil 



honeyed mouthfuls sipped from the flowers. 

 The larva, on the other hand, demands the 

 soft bread of the green pea still growing 

 inside the pod. For these reasons, the store- 

 house knows no further multiplication on the 

 part of the ravager introduced at the 

 beginning. 



The origin of the mischief lies out of 

 doors. It is here more than elsewhere that 

 we ought to keep a watch on the Weevil's 

 misdeeds, were it not that we are nearly 

 always unarmed when it comes to fighting 

 against insects. Indestructible because of 

 their numbers, their small size, their sly 

 cunning, the little creatures laugh at man's 

 anger. The gardener fumes and curses; the 

 Weevil remains unconcerned: imperturbably 

 she continues to levy her tithe. 



Fortunately, we have assistants, more 

 patient and more clear-sighted than our- 

 selves. In the first week of August, when 

 the adult Bruchus is beginning to move away, 

 I make the acquaintance of a little Chalcis, 

 the protector of our peas. In my rearing- 

 jars, a number of her comes out of the 

 Weevil's home before my eyes. The female 

 has a red head and thorax and a black abdo- 

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