212 BULLETIN NO. 62. 



In feeding on the fruit of the plum the curculio makes a character- 

 istic crescent slit in the skin, while the gouger makes a simple 

 circular hole. The plum gouger grub feeds entirely from the 

 flesh of the fruit pit, while the curculio feeds from the fruit outside 

 of, but next to, the pit. The curculio causes the fruit of the plum 

 to drop to the ground while still very immature, though infested 

 cherries become mature. Plum fruits containing gouger young 

 reach maturit}^ on the tree. It is apparent therefore that there is 

 little reason for failing to distinguish between these two weevils 

 or their eflects upon the fruit. 



OCCURRENCE IN MONTANA. 



While making a hasty survey for insect pests in the Yellow- 

 stone Valley west of Billings during last summer, (1905) this weevil 

 was found infesting the plum orchards of that region, but confined 

 as is characteristic of the species, to native varieties. A large 

 percentage of the fruit in infested trees had been gouged, very seri- 

 ously injuring the crop. The species was first located in two 

 orchards at Park City and later in an orchard about three miles 

 west of Billings. We are informed by Mr. Olney Taylor, formerly 

 of Park City, that the gouger has been in that place to his knowl- 

 ledge for some eight or ten years. 



Mr. Taylor affirms that another weevil, with humps on its 

 back, believed by him to be the curculio, has been found by him in 

 his plums at Park City. The writer has not yet seen specimens of 

 this beetle in any stage. It is probable that any one attempting to 

 grow plums in the Yellowstone Valley will be more or less troubled 

 with this insect. From what has been learned of this species in 

 other parts of the country it is apparent tliat it is capable of becom- 

 a verv considerable factor in the production of marketable plums 

 en a commercial scale and our fruit growers in the central and west- 

 ern parts of the state as well as in the Yellowstone and tributary 

 valleys, will do well to be on the look out for it and protect them- 

 selves. 



