86 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO FRUIT. 



boxes in which I have been throwing the fallen plums, is teeming with the grubs. A 

 few begin to show embryo legs and wings ; but none are yet as far advanced as Figs. 

 4 and 5, Plate 6. Most are still larva?, and seem to be busy making their cells. 

 Nearly all the plums are now empty, showing the .holes, as in Figs. 5 and 6, Plate 

 3, where they have gone out. Have placed gauze over them to prevent escape. 

 Find no Curculios on my own trees. I notice that Green Gages and Bolmar plums, 

 now falling from the puncture of the Curculio, show specks of rot. This certainly is 

 not caused by wet weather, 



July 12. Tried my Plum trees this morning, but found no Curculios. Took 

 the canvas and mop-stick to Mr. P.'s, and got sixteen from four trees. Would have 

 tried other trees, but had only two pill-boxes ; and owing to the heat, the Curculios 

 were so quick in their motions, I could manage but few in each. Two did not 

 always escape when I put one in, but one was pretty sure to get away when I tried 

 to put two in. 



I am not an entomologist, and never expect to be. If I knew all about all the 

 insects, I would be willing to accept the title. The fact is, I do not believe I know 

 all about any one insect Here I have been watching this thing twenty years. I see 

 it come into the mature or winged condition in the summer and fall. The next 

 spring, in May, it will be depositing eggs in fruit. I see it still in the same condition 

 in the middle of July. The Pea bug, which somewhat resembles it in appearance, 

 runs a similar career ; but most other insects pass much the largest period of their 

 lives in the larva state. The Cicada, for instance, is sixteen years, nine months, and 

 ten days in the earth, and about twenty days above ground in its perfected form. 

 Some varieties of ephemera will be four years under water, and perhaps only that 

 many hours in the winged state, in the air. How mysterious how wonderful is this 

 little insect world ! I am now watching these sixteen Curculios in a glass covered 

 with gauze. They have two plums, and a few of them creep over and examine 

 them, especially the specks of gum; but the greater number are restless, and 

 try to get out. The last time, about two weeks ago, that I examined the 

 operations of a company of the Curculios on fruit, several of them passed a 

 long time cutting the crescent marks ; but I could not see them deposit the 

 egg. I now wish to test this matter further, with reference to the rot in plums about 

 this time. 



Mr. Pierson's man has been gathering the blighted apples that lay in the walks, 

 but only because they were a deformity to the garden. They were thrown upon the 

 manure heap, where the Curculios will probably have just as good a chance to come 



