CLOVER-LEAF WEEVIL. 17 



The fungus mycelia ramify through the body of the larva, absorb 

 the body fluids, but do not penetrate the tracheal or alimentary tract. 

 A portion of the mycelium pushes out through the ventral side of the 

 larva and forms rhizoids attaching the larva securely to its support. 

 Other mycelial threads push out from other portions of the body and 

 form a gray velvety coating over the body of the larva. On the tip of 

 some of these branches is formed a spore which is projected forcibly 

 into the air to infect other larves with which it may come in contact. 

 These are the temporary spores and germinate at once to infect new 

 hosts. Resting spores are also formed and these develop in the body of 

 the larva and are capable of retaining their virility for a longer time. 



This disease is well distributed in the United States and attacks 

 numerous other insects, among them the common cabbage worm 

 (Pontia rapae L.), mosquitos, flies, ichneumon wasps, and certain 

 leafhoppers. 



According to Riley the larva of a small beetle (Collops quadrimac- 

 ulatus Fab.) feeds on the eggs of the clover-leaf weevil and one of 

 the tiger-beetles (Cicindela repanda Dej.) probably preys on the 

 larvse. In Europe several larval parasites are known but none have 

 been recorded from this country. H. L. Parker, of the Bureau of Ento- 

 mology, collected a clover-leaf weevil larva at Hagerstown, Md., April 

 30, 1915, bearing a tachinid egg, but the adult was not reared therefrom. 



Poultry, especially turkeys and chickens, are fond of the larvse 

 and beetles, and if given the opportunity will consume large numbers. 



Birds are valuable and important natural checks on this insect and 

 according to the Bureau of Biological Survey (2, p. 7), 



The common or large clover-leaf weevil is the prey of 25 species of birds. The 

 nighthawk, crow, red-headed woodpecker, purple martin, and crow blackbird have 

 the best records for the destruction of adults, and the Savannah and vesper sparrows 

 of the larvae. 



In literature we find the following birds listed as feeding on Hypera 

 punctata: 



American crow Corvus brachyrhynchos. 



Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus. 



Bobwhite r Colinus virginianus. 



Catbird Dumetella carolinensis. 



Crow blackbird Quiscalus quiscula. 



Flicker Colaptes auratus. 



Homed lark Qtocoris alpestris flava. 



Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus. 



Meadowlark Sturnella magna. 



Nighthawk Chordeiles virginianus. 



Purple martin Progne subis. 



Red-headed woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus. 



Robin Planesticus migratorius. 



Sparrows: 



English Passer domesticus. 



Savannah Passerculus sandvjichensis savanna. 



Vesper Pooecetes gramineus. 



Wood pewee Contopus virens. 



