THE CURCULIO. J$ 



young plums large enough for the puncture of the Curculio, the jarring would not so 

 often prove unproductive ; until the fruit is to a certain extent developed, they are 

 almost as likely to be found on one tree as another. To-day, in examining the blistered 

 leaves on some Peach trees in a neighbor's garden, I found a Curculio on the upper 

 side of one of these blisters. 



May 17. Tried again this evening for the Curculio, but found none. 



May 18. Have seen both Pears and Cherries with the Curculio mark to-day. 

 Found knots on young Cherry trees this afternoon, and caught a Curculio on one of 

 them. Gave it a thorough examination under the microscope. If I had had the 

 slightest doubt of its identity with the Curculio that is bred in the Plum and other 

 fruits, it would now have been removed. The microscope settles all such uncertain- 

 ties. By a careful examination of this knot, a crescent-shaped mark was found, with 

 an egg in it. This egg, together with one from a punctured Apricot, was placed 

 under the microscope, and their identity was conclusively proved. The Curculio 

 taken from the Cherry knot was now dissected, and only two eggs were found. 



May 20. I have had quite a search for Curculios to-day, but found none upon 

 the fruits, although a few of the earlier kinds of Pears, Plums, and Cherries are 

 marked. Caught ten on the knots of Plum and Cherry trees ; four of them on a 

 single knot on a Cherry twig. 



May 21. The Curculios caught yesterday on the Cherry knots were taken to 

 Mr. Hochstein to-day, that he might have an opportunity of catching the positions 

 they assume when cutting the crescent, depositing the egg, and then securing it in 

 the place so carefully prepared for it. Two Apricots were given them, and in less 

 than a minute they were all on those Apricots, and the females were making the 

 crescent-shaped marks instantly two on one, three on the other. The males 

 attached themselves to the stems, where they seemed to be feeding. Some of their 

 attitudes were very amusing. Could the Elephant be photographed down to the size 

 of one of these male Curculios, as it was attached to the stem of an Apricot, it would 

 be very like a Curculio. 



The time consumed by the female in cutting the crescent in fruit so young as it 

 is now, is very short, not more than two minutes ; but the making of the cavity in 

 which the egg is to be stowed away, is a much more tedious operation. I waited 

 half an hour, and none of them had finished. Many times for years past, when not 



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