2 BULLETIX 1085, U. S. DEPAETMEXT OF AGRICULTURE. 



ORIGIN AND ECONOMIC HISTORY. 



CaulopMlus latinasus was described in the year 1831 by Thomas 

 Say {13: 1831, p. 30; 1859, p. 299) ' from specimens taken in Florida. 

 It is thought to be native to the American continent and is not as 

 yet very widely distributed. 



In 1878 Schwatz (14, p- 4^8) recorded it from Florida as ''rare, 

 beaten from dead twigs." Ten years later Riley and Howard 

 (11, p. 198) stated that the genus lived under the bark of dead and 

 decaying wood or bored into decaying wood of 'deciduous or coniferous 

 trees. In 1894 Townsend^ reported it as occurring in a can of ginger. 

 Two years later Chittenden (3, p. 29-30) reported it for the fu"st time 

 as attacking stored grain, having found it in a shipment of corn 

 and chick peas obtained from the Mexican exhibit at the Atlanta 

 Exposition. In 1897 (4, p. 30-31) and 1911 (5) Chittenden published 

 short accounts concerning the occurrence of this weevil in the 

 United States, its synonymy, its reported distribution, the damage 

 caused by it, etc., and also included a hst of references to this species 

 in literature. 



Since then it has been reported by the following writers as attacking 

 seeds of the avocado in Florida: Schwarz (1, p. 183), Sasscer (12, 

 p. 4~5), Blatchley and Leng (2, p. 535), Pierce (8, p. 30, pi. 49), 

 Popenoe (9, p. 6) (10, p. 34-35, pi. 40), Hoyt (6), and Moznette (7). 

 It was also found by inspectors of the Federal Horticultural Board 

 infesting roots of dasheen in storage at Brooksville, Fla. 



PRESENT KNOWN DISTRIBUTION. 



CaulopJiilus latinasus is now widespread over Florida and has been 

 reported from South Carolina and Georgia. So far as can be deter- 

 mined, it has not become permanently established in either of the 

 two latter States. It is abundant within a few miles of the boundary 

 between Florida and Georgia, however, and may be expected to 

 invade the southern portion of Georgia. 



It is known to occur in Jamaica, Cuba, Porto Rico, Mexico, Guate- 

 mala, and Madeira, and is doubtless common throughout the islands 

 of the West Indies and in the countries of Central and South America. 



FOOD. 



CaulopJiilus latinasus is known to breed in corn, chick peas, millets, 

 acorns, and seed of the avocado and has occasionally been found 

 breeding in the roots of the dasheen and in sweet potatoes. 



In addition, the adult weevils feed readily on wheat, barley, wheat 

 flour, ginger, and macaroni. The writer has occasionally found them 

 feeding on fresh fruits, and E. R. Sasscer, of the Federal Horticultural 

 Board, states that the board has observed injury to chayotes by this 

 weevil. 



1 Reference is made by number Citalic) to "Literature cited," p. 10. 



» To\rNSE:«), C. H. T. Institute of Jamaica, Xotes from the Museum, No. 78, 1894. (Hectographed.) 



