[ 34 j 



On the Fruit Ciirculw. 



The following extracts are from the paper on the fruit 

 curculio, by Dr. Tilton, referred to by that gentleman, 

 page 189. 



*' The manner in which this insect injures and de- 

 stroys our fruits, is, by its mode of propagation. — Early 

 in the spring, about the time when the fruit trees are in 

 blossom, the curculiones ascend in swarms from the 

 earth, crawl up the trees, and as the several fruits ad- 

 vance, they puncture the rind or skin, w4th their pointed 

 rostra, and deposit their embryos in the wounds thus 

 inflicted. The maggot thus bedded in the fruit, preys 

 upon its pulp and juices, until in most instances, the 

 fruit perishes, falls to the ground and the insect escaping 

 from so unsafe a residence, makes a sure retreat into the 

 earth : where, like other beetles, it remains in the form 

 of a grub or worm, during the winter, ready to be me- 

 tamorphosed into a bug or beetle, as the spring advances. 

 Thus every tree furnishes its own enemy ; for although 

 these bugs have manifestly the capacity of flying, they 

 appear very reluctant in the use. of their wings ; and per- 

 haps never employ them but when necessity compels 

 them to migrate. It is a fact, that two trees of the same 

 kind may stand in the nearest possible neighbourhood, 

 not to touch each other, the one have its fruit destroyed 

 by the curculio, and the other be uninjured, merely from 

 contingent circumstances, which prevent the insects 

 from crawling up the one, while they are uninterrupted 

 from climbing the other.'' 



