HISTORY OF INSECTS. 51 



CHAPTER IX. 



HISTORY OF THE APPLE WEEVIL.* 



Class Coleoptera. i Genus Anthonomus. 



Order Curculionites. | Species Pomorum. 



157- THE apple weevil is frequently in Here- 

 fordshire the cause of the total failure of the crop 

 of apples, and of a consequent heavy loss to the 

 grower ; it is a small beetle, about half the size 

 of a grain of wheat, of a reddish brown colour, 

 with the appearance of a letter V obscurely 

 chalked on its back. 



158. With the first sunshiny day in March, 

 these weevils leave their winter quarters, the 

 crevices in the bark, crawl up the trunk along 

 the twigs, perch themselves so as to receive the 

 full benefit of the sun's rays, and plume them- 

 selves all over in the same manner that a cat 

 washes her face with her hands, stretch their 

 limbs one at a time, unfold their wings, and fly 

 away in search of their consorts. 



* From RUSTICUS, in Entomological Magazine. 

 E 2 



