THIRD ANNUM. REPORT OF STATE ENTOMOLOGIST. 217 



sion surrounding each puncture. So far as the writer has observed 

 there is no external indication to aid in determining which of the 

 injured plums contain immature gougers. 



The punctures made by this species are not easily mistaken for 

 the characteristic slit or crescent made by the female plum curculio 

 in depositing her eggs. 



The egg laying extends over a considerable period, probably 

 until late in July in Montana. 



THE LARVA, PUPA AND ADULT. 



The very small grub, upon hatching from the egg, bores directly 

 towards the pit, which it enters, gnawing its way through the shell 

 of the pit, which at that time is soft and easily gnawed. Some two 

 weeks from the time of hatching are required for the larva to get in- 

 side the pit, much of this time being consumed in entering the pit. 

 On the flesh of the pit the larva feeds until maturity, there being 

 about enough nourishment for one larva in a single pit. By the 

 time full size is reached the shell has become very hard, but by a 

 wise instinct the larva is prompted to make an exit-opening, using 

 for this purpose its powerful jaws. Then, still within the pit, the 

 transformation to the pupa or quiescent stage occurs. From these 

 pupa the adult beetles come and go at once to winter quarters with- 

 out feeding. The hole through the hard shell of the pit is of suf- 

 ficient size to admit the passage of the adult bettle which but for 

 the hole previously made could not escape for the adult mouth- 

 parts are not adapted for such difficult tasks. 



Prof. Gillette's experiments indicate to him that about twenty- 

 six injured plums out of every hundred yielded mature insects. 



REMEDIES. 



It seems to be a well estalilished fact that gougcr infested 

 plums do not fall prematurely and that, therefore, little or no good 

 can be done by ])icking up and destroying fallen fruit. Prof. Gil- 

 lette has recommended two remedial measures: (i) Gather and 

 destroy all stung fruit on the trees before any of the beetles emerge. 

 AVhile visiting various orchards in the Yellowstone Valley on Aug- 

 ust 29th, _ 1905, the writer found the gougers existing as pupae in 



