INSECT PESTS AND DISEASES. 



165 



REMEDIES. These are precisely similar to the methods 

 of destroying the Goat Moth (which see). 



THE APPLE BLOSSOM WEEVIL (Anthonomus pomorum), 

 Fig. 46. The grub of this weevil destroys the flowers, 

 and the perfect insect feeds upon the foliage of the apple. 

 The latter hibernates under stones, clods, and other hiding 

 places, and when the flower buds commence to swell, the 

 weevils come forth, pairing takes place, and the females 

 commence to deposit their eggs, one in each flower bud, 

 and continue to do so until the opening flowers put a stop 

 to the operation. The egg hatches in about a week if the 

 weather is fine, and 

 the grubs eat away 

 the stamens and 

 young ovary, caus- 

 ing the buds ulti- 

 mately to wither and 

 drop with the full- 

 grown maggot in- 

 side. The latter is 

 fleshy white and 

 without legs, and FIG. 40. THE APPLE WEEVIL. 



undergoes its trans- 

 formations in the fallen buds, attaining the perfect state in 

 about a month from the time the egg was laid. The per- 

 fect weevil then feeds on the foliage for the rest of the 

 summer. The wing cases are rusty brown, with a white 

 Hue crossing them obliquely, and other markings. The 

 long snout bears the elbowed antennae. 



REMEDIES. The females seldom fly, although the 

 males do, so that the former may be trapped while as- 

 cending by the trunks of the trees to lay their eggs. This 

 may be done by means of bands of grease such as are 



