October, 1929] WHITE PINE WEEVIL 11 



After the cavity is prepared the act of oviposition is quickly accom- 

 plished, occupying from a few seconds to a minute or more. Usually one 

 egg is inserted in each egg cavity. However, frequently two, occasionally 

 three, and rarely four or five eggs are found. 



To determine the number of eggs laid by a single female a pair of 

 weevils was placed on each of forty-seven white pine leaders in glass 

 vials inserted in plaster-of-Paris blocks. The experiment was begun 

 May 8-11, 1928. Leaders were removed and replaced with fresh ones on 

 the dates indicated in Table I for the purpose of counting the eggs, or 

 larvae if anj- had hatched. 



Thirteen females or pairs of weevils were dead at the end of the first 

 period. These are not included in Table I. The experiment was con- 

 tinued a week longer than shown in Table I to ensure that all of the 

 females had finished ovipositing. It is impossible to tell exactly when 

 egg laying began and when it ceased. 



SUMMARY OF THE DATA IN TABLE 1 



Average number of eggs per female for first five weeks 35.7 



Average per female per week 7. 



Average number of eggs per female for the next two weeks 32.8 



Average per female per w^eek 16.4 



Average number of eggs per female for next three w'eeks 59.2 



Average per female per week 18.7 



Average total number of eggs laid 129. 



Maximum number laid bj' a single female 201. 



Minimum number laid by a single female 25. 



More eggs are laid near the end of the oviposition period, that is from 

 June 25-26 to July 17, and not earh- in the season as stated by some 

 writers. 



Under field conditions the female may oviposit on several leaders, 

 or two or more pairs may work together on the same leader. In this 

 way it is possible for leaders in the field to contain more eggs than the 

 maximum number found in the insectary cage. 



POSTOVIPOSITION AND LONGEVITY 



The oviposition period terminates when the weevils gradually dis- 

 appear from the leaders in July. 



After leaving the leader at least a part of the weevils move to other 

 parts of the tree, especially to the vicinity of the new growth on lower 

 lateral branches, which seem particularly attractive to them at this season 

 of the year. Here the}^ are found in a semi-dormant condition. Their 

 condition is not such that the term "estivation" can be used, for they feed 

 to some extent and are slightly active. They do not make their typical 

 feeding punctures but eat small patches of bark and cambium. These 

 feeding evidences are not found previously to the disappearance of the 



