104 Insect Pests. 



grey cilia. Thorax spotted white and grey. Abdomen deep grey; 

 apex ochreous ; legs grey and white scaled. 



The moths fly towards evening ; very few are seen in May, but 

 in the late summer the second brood is quite abundant in some 

 trees. It does not, however, seem to do much harm (1). 



References. 



(1) Theobald, F. V. Eeport on Economic Zoology for the year ending 



April 1st, 1907, p. 27 (1907). 



(2) Stainton, H. T. ' Natural History of the Tineina,' vol. VIII., pp. 235-242 



(1864). 



THE APPLE BLOSSOM WEEVIL. 



(A'idlwnoimis 2^omorurn. Linn.) 



In cold and unfavourable weather, when the flow of sap to the 

 developing apple blossom buds is checked, and their opening 

 retarded, much damage is often wrought by the larvae of a small 

 weevil, known as the Apple Blossom Weevil, the Anthonomus 

 pomorum of Linnanis. This pest has been known for a con- 

 siderable number of years as an insect injurious to the apple. 

 Mr. Knight, in his ' Treatise on the Culture of the Apple and 

 Pear,' published in 1801, refers to this weevil as being particularly 

 " fatal to a larger proportion of the blossom, when the time of its 

 expansion has been preceded by hot and dry weather." Kollar (1) 

 also refers at length to this pest. Not only is the apple blossom 

 attacked by this species of weevil, but the pear also. Canon Fowler 

 (2) in his work on beetles, says it is " apparently uncommon in the 

 London district, Kent and Surrey." This statement is, however, 

 far from correct ; for, in Kent it is a terrible pest, and it is nearly as 

 bad in parts of Surrey (10). This weevil is also very harmful in 

 Worcestershire (11). 



Life-History and Habits. 



As soon as the first warm days of spring come, the beetles leave 

 their winter shelter, and, after being fertilised by the male, are 

 ready to lay their eggs. The ova, which are white oval bodies, are 

 desposited in the blossom buds before they open. How the females 

 reach the buds is still an undecided question. They are provided 

 with wings, but they seldom, it appears, make use of them. Kollar 

 says, " nor are they seen flying from branch to branch." White- 



