35 



armed with a small hook."* It is not known where the eggs are 

 placed. Egg-laying begins in tlie early spring. The larvae, 

 or maggots, which are white, legless, nearly a quarter of an inch 

 long, and somewhat curved, live in the roots of clover, peas, 

 beans, and other leguminous plants, and change there to pupae. 



It is certain that some of the weevils pass the winter in 

 weevil form. Probably in other cases hibernation takes place 

 in the pupal state, though this is not definitely known. 

 Nordlinger observes that many weevils come from the pupae at 

 the end of August, and without doubt hibernate in weevil 

 shape. f From observation, it is plain that these insects 

 hibernate in the perfect, as well as in the pupge state. Larvae 

 have also been found at all seasons of the year, among the 

 roots of clover. A favourite resort of the hibernating weevils 

 is in the straws of stubble. They are also carried in quantities 

 with peas and beans into ricks and barns. These weevils feed by 

 night as well as by day. 



METHODS OF PEEVENTION AND REMEDIES. 



Lime, soot, and lime and soot mixed, may be advantageously 

 distributed over infested plants while the dew is upon them, or 

 after rain. Guano also may be used in this way. 



Fine powdery materials can be easily applied, and well 

 distributed with " Knapsack " machines like the Torpille, and 

 others of similar principle. 



When peas and beans are attacked, it would be desirable to 

 press the earth tightly and firmly close round the plants, in 

 order to prevent the beetles from coming up from the earth. 

 This might be done by men and boys walking with a foot on 

 either side of each row of plants. 



Summer fallowing land after an attack would be very 

 desirable. Wheat after clover ley is often infested by swarms 

 of weevils. In this case it would be dangerous to sow trifolium 

 at all.J If it is sown, the land should be " broadshared," or 

 cultivated and ploughed. The stubble should be burnt. This 

 practice of burning stubble, weeds, roots, and rubbish, is 

 comparatively seldom adopted in these days. It is believed that 

 this is one cause of the more frequent and more destructive 

 visitations of insects injurious to crops. 



Infested clover leys should be deeply ploughed, with a " skim " 

 coulter on the plough, and thoroughly well pressed. Roots on 

 the top should be got off, and burnt, not carted to the outsides 

 and left in lumps. 



* The Coleoptera of the British Islands, by the Key. Canon Fowler, F.L.S. 



f Die Kleinen Feinde der Landwirthschaft, von Dr. H. Nordlinger. 



The failure of trifolium is generally attributed to weather influences, bad seed, 

 or unsuitable cultivating, but in most cases it is due to the agency of insects, such as 

 this weevil, which delight in its tender leaves ; also to two or three kinds of fungi. 



c 2 



