CUKCULIOS THAT ATTACK WALNUT AND HICKORY. 15 



The larva (PL VII, D, E. and F) is yellowish white with brown 

 head and black jaws and is covered with scattering, short bristles, 

 those on the dorsal surface of the last three segments being longer 

 than those elsewhere. The length of the larva averages 10 mm. and 

 the thickness at the middle 2 mm. Except for its slightly smaller 

 size it is practically indistinguishable from those of other species 

 described herein. 



The favorite feeding place of the larva is in the heart of the bulb- 

 like swelling at the base of the leaf petiole. (PL VII, D and E.) 

 It also mines in the pith of the shoots and leaf stems, making bur- 

 rows an inch or two long. The season of activity is in the spring and 

 early summer when the new growth is tender. 



The delicate, white pupa (PL VIII, B) is characteristic of the 

 group and occupies an earthen cell from one-half inch to 2 inches 

 below the surface of the ground. The pupa stage covers a period 

 of not more than two or three weeks. 



ADULT. 



The beetle (PL VII, A) is considerably smaller than any other of 

 the curculios discussed herein, an average specimen measuring 5 

 mm. in length and 2 mm. in thickness. The color is dull grayish 

 brown with a more or less indistinct, broad band of yellowish pubes- 

 cence behind the middle of the elytra and a narrow line of the same 

 color on each side of the thorax. . The snout is stout and curved and 

 as long as the head and thorax combined. 



The newly transformed beetles issue from the ground in mid- 

 summer and probably spend thereafter a period of comparative in- 

 activity on hickory trees before hibernating in the autumn. With 

 the bursting of hickory buds the following spring they reappear and 

 begin ovipositing as soon as the shoots are a few inches long. They 

 feed rather freely at this time, eating out small pits which extend 

 through the bark of the young growth. Beetles were found fre- 

 quently hiding between the folds of the expanding buds of hickory. 

 In ovipositing the female spends 30 to 40 minutes in preparing a 

 place for the <■•-"-'. and while thus engaged is often guarded closely 

 by ;i male. 



NATURAL ENEMIES. 



The larva while feeding and developing became rather heavily 

 parasitized, ai leas! 50 per cenl of them dying from this cause during 

 the two season! they were kep< under observation. Three species of 



