its Natural History. Habits^ S^c. 



283 



not prove so here, as the injury which it sustains is quite 

 genera], unless protected. 



I say, then, he is known to be on 

 the fruit tree by his peculiar mark on 

 the fruit. This mark is the wound he 

 makes with his rostrum, which consists 

 in raising up the skin of the plum to 

 a small extent, under which he depos- 

 its an 0,%%. The shape or form of this 

 mark is semilunar or crescent shape, 

 and in the middle of this wound is a 

 small discolored speck, where the egg 

 is placed, {Jigs. 22, 23, 24.) 



In the early part of the season, or 

 during the month of June, his mark 

 will be found near the apex or point of 

 the plum, {fig. 22.) 



But after the plum has reached a 

 considerable size, or from the 1st to the 

 20th of July, his mark will be found at 

 the base, or near where the stem is in- 

 serted, {fig. 23.) 



This last mentioned place the insect 

 prefers, it would seem, from instinct, 



Incision near the apex in 

 imall plums. 



lest the plum, by its strong connection to the tree, should 



not fall soon enough to secure the wel- 

 fare of the grub within it ; for this vital 

 connection is sooner disturbed by the 

 worm than it would be if the egg had 

 been deposited at the apex. 



When the egg hatches the lava, 

 sometimes, it is presumed, falls from 

 the nidus or nest, and the fruit remains 

 unharmed ; but most generally, in four 

 or five days from the time the egg is 

 laid, a small blueish line, near the skin, 

 may be seen, extending from his mark, 

 {fig. 24, p. 284.) which signifies that 

 the grub is within. And also when his 

 mark has assumed a blueish tint, you 

 may be certain that destruction will fol- 

 low ; for when you see these signs, 

 take the plum from the tree, and cut 

 off a small portion where the mark is. 



Incision, near the base, m 

 large plums The small 

 or discolored spot, at the 

 inner line of the mark, is 

 the nest where the egg 

 lies. 



