320 Observations on the Pea Fly^ ^c'. 



for them. The common black wevel (curculio piceiis) 

 in Carolina and Florida, are particularly destructive to 

 the mayz, (indian corn) and oryza (rice) after it is di- 

 vested of its huskj and prepared for exportation ; then 

 there is no way of saving it, not even in casks, for any 

 length of time, but is entirely safe in the husk, or in the 

 rough, as the planters term it* 



'Curculio oblongus rufo-testacius^ Coleopteris angulato tU" 

 berculatis notatis, proboscide lo?iga, deorsum arcuata. 



This insect is of the genus we call wevel, but is much 

 larger than the common black one which infests gi'ain 

 in our granaries. They are of an oblong form, and of 

 a brown testaceous colour, yet varied with spots or 

 clouds of yellow or white, and the elytron or shell which 

 covers the wings, is studded with pointed tubercles, as 

 are the thighs, legs and thorax. The proboscis is trun- 

 cated, and terminates with a serrated or toothed forceps, 

 with which they gnaw the green fruit : near the extre- 

 mity of the proboscis, are two articulated antennae, the 

 eyes are placed near the base or origin of the proboscis; 

 the legs are six in number, two of which are placed on 

 the thorax, near the joint, and the other four are on the 

 sides of the body near the abdomen ; the whole insect 

 is covered with hair. 



This is the mischievous insect which destroys all 

 our stone fruit, plumbs, pears, nectarins, cherries &:c. 

 and I believe apples, the European walnut, and other 

 fruits. But it is not in the fly or beetle state that they 



