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CHAPTER XIII.— WEEVILS. 



Black Vine Weevil {(Jliorliiiiuli ii.'< ^iilialKs. FAn.'i 



This beetle is probiibly the most destriK-tive insect pest, both iu its birval 

 and perfect stages, on strawberries, that we have in British Columbia. The 

 mature insect is brownish-black, about half an inch in length, with the long 

 snout characteristic of all weevils. The- larva is a small white grub, which 

 attacks the crown of the roots and so kills the plant. Mr. Thos. Cimningham. 

 Inspector of Fruit Pests, recommends burning off the tops of the plants after 

 the crop has been gathered ; this has the effect of destroying the beetles 

 which shelter themselves amongst the leaves, and which they also attack. 

 Dr. Fletcher says : " The only remedy which can be suggested for this beetle, 

 as yet, is the planting of strawberries on new ground, and frequent renewal 

 of the beds, the worst Injuries being done to old plants." Mr. W. T. Macouu, 

 the Horticulturist of the Central Experimental Farm, considers the single 

 crop method of growing strawberries the one which pays liest, the fruit being 

 finer and the land being kept clean much more easily. Some varieties which 

 do not make runners freely might be left for two years. 



Strawberrv Weevil (.iiitliononuis sij/iiiiliix. Say.) 



(Fig. 5Sa.) 



The habits of the strawberry weevil are interesting. It passes the winter 

 in the mature beetle form, and, just before the flowers of the strawberry 

 unfold, the Insects fly to the strawberry beds and may be found in large 

 numbers upon the flowering stems. When the female lays her eggs she 

 punctures a closed bud, for which purpose she generally chooses the earliest 

 and largest. This is done with her sharp and slender beak, and the hole 

 penetrates to the centre of the bud. She then deposits a single egg, pushing 

 it down into the hole. Having done this, she crawls to the stem of the flower 



