INJURIOUS TO CABBAGE AND CRUCIFEROUS CROPS 377 



The Cabbage Curculio * 



A small weevil has proven injurious to early cabbage, particu- 

 larly in seed-beds, in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Missouri and elsewhere. 

 The cabbage curculio is a native of middle and northern Europe, 

 where it is not known as doing much injury, and was first noticed 

 in this country in Massachusetts in 1873. Since then it has spread 

 over the Northern States and occurs in California. 



The adult weevil is of a broad, oval shape, about one-eighth 

 inch long, and is covered with grayish scales, but is blackish when 



FIG. 273. The cabbage curculio (Ceuforh ;nchus rape Gyll.): a, beetle; 

 b, same in profile; c, larva; d, head of same; e, pupa in cocoon; a, b, c, e, 

 eight times natural size; d, more enlarged. (After Chittenden, U. S. D. 

 Agf.) 



these are rubbed off in old specimens. The weevils appear about 

 the middle of April at Washington, D. C., and lay their eggs in the 

 leaf stalks late in April. The grayish, oval egg is about one thirty- 

 fifth inch long, and is inserted in a cavity eaten out by the female, 

 which causes a very noticeable scar. The eggs hatch in about a 

 week. The white, footless larvae are about one-fourth inch long 

 and bore into the leaf-stems and stalks. " Larvse are found most 

 numerous in the upper portion of stems, penetrating frequently as 



* Ceutorhyncus rupee Gyll. Family Curculwnidoe. See F. H. Chittenden, 

 Bulletin 23, n. s., Bureau of Ent., U. S. Dept. Agr., p. 39, and F. M. Webster, 

 Bulletin 77, Ohio Agr. Exp. Sta., p. 50. 



