499 



semierectus, and Medicago lupulina, while it will readily lay 

 them on the larger-seeded Crotalaria, and on indigo seeds in 

 the pod. 



The seeds of Cassia siamea are almost paper-thin and their 

 form alone would seem to forbid them being utilized by any 

 Bruchid. 



Entrance of the Briichidae into the Seed. 



Those species which cement the egg solidly to the seed 

 itself have the advantage of the support of the egg in penetrat- 

 ing into the seed and need not wander about to find a favorable 

 point for entrance. The species which attach the seeds to the 

 pod at times and those which place them in crevices of the- pod 

 or loose among seeds in storage have to meet the problem of 

 placing themselves as larvae in some position where they may 

 secure some other support for the boring operation. If the 

 egg is cemented on the pod directly over the seed the larva will 

 frequently find the surface of the seed lying close against the 

 pod where it has entered and the hole made in entering the 

 pod will serve its purpose. In any case if it misses this point 

 in entering the pod it can easily wedge itself between the seed 

 and pod and get its purchase in that way and the larvae from 

 eggs laid within the pod can do the same. Larvae from eggs of 

 Bruchus ohtectus laid among beans in storage have been seen 

 to enter where two seeds touch or wdiere seed touched the 

 glass of the tube in which they were under observation. 



Emergence of Bruchidae from Seeds. 



Considerable difi^erence of interpretation has existed as 

 to the emergence of Bruchidae,- some considering that the larva 

 makes complete preparation for the emergence of the adult 

 while others have supposed that the adult gnaws its way out of 

 the seed. In the case of all BrucJiidae which I have studied 

 the adult pushes loose from the seed a circular bit of the seed 

 coat w^hich has been gnawed around and loosened from the rest 



