BEETLES. 171 



and always under cover, gnaws away at the heart of 

 our grains and fruits, we become in a measure helpless 

 to defend ourselves. But even here, where the enemy 

 is so well ambushed and hidden, the proper tactics, 

 based on thorough knowledge, will frequently enable 

 us to penetrate the defences, and conquer the foe. 



Some of these beetles are so minute as scarcely to 

 exceed a good-sized flea. It is difficult to enumerate 

 all the varied haunts to which these destroyers find 

 their way. Suffice it to say that they are plentiful in 

 woods, as well as gardens, granaries, and even houses. 

 The habits of one of them are unfortunately those of 

 a great number. This Weevil, 1 which attacks the 

 Lime, Birch, Mountain Ash, and other trees, makes 

 its ascent during the night and feeds on the foliage 

 and bark both of young and old shoots, and during 

 the day lodges at the foot of the tree, slightly con- 

 cealed in the earth, from its great resemblance to which 

 it is difficult to detect They commence their de- 

 predations about the middle or the latter end of April, 

 and continue them for several weeks. 



The Pine Weevil 2 is but too common in fir 

 plantations, especially in the North, and is large for 

 the family. They attack both the bark and buds, and 

 not only the bark of the branches and twigs, but also 

 the roots near the surface of the ground, wherein the 

 female is believed to deposit her eggs. This beetle is 

 more injurious in its perfect state than in the larva. 

 Young slender trees are often so much gnawed, as to 

 be easily broken by the wind. When a bud is once 



1 Onorhynchus picipes. - I ly lob ins abietis. 



