4 BULLETIN 812, U. S. DEPAKTMENT OF AGKICULTUEE. 



is to the growing of alfalfa or clover for a seed crop, and the insect 

 may therefore be considered strictly a seed pest. 



FOOD PLANTS. 



The following plants have been found to be food plants of the 

 chalcis-fly, B. funebris, seeds of each of these having been found in- 

 fested by this species: 



Alfalfa (Medicago sativa). 



Red clover (TrifoUum pratense). 



Bur clover (Medicago Mspida nigra). 



Bur clover (Medicago Mspida terebellum). 



Bur clover (Medicago Mspida denticulata). 



Medicago falcata. 



Medicago ruthemia. 



Medicago tunetana. 



Medicago tuberculata. 



Medicago arahica. 



The seeds of the following list of closely related plants apparently 

 are not attacked by the chalcis-fly: 



White clover (TrifoUum repens). 

 Alsike clover (TrifoUum hybridum). 

 Yellow sweet clover (MeUlotus offlcinuUs). 

 White sweet clover (MeUlotus alba). 

 Sour clover (MeUlotus indica). 



ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE. 



Table I shows the destruction of alfalfa and clover seed as found 

 in samples of seed taken in the given localities. 



Table I.- 



-Percentage of alfalfa and red clover seed found infested by Brucho- 

 phagus funebris. 



Locality. 



Date of 

 collection. 



Seeds examined. 









Seed de- 

 stroyed. 







Total. 



Infested. 









Per cent. 



886 



7 



0.7 



902 



45 



5 



156 



81 



52 



1,374 



723 



52.6 



1,000 



361 



36.1 



1,100 



260 



23.6 



1,053 



222 



21 



1,236 



400 



32.3 



1,091 



291 



26.5 



1,005 



268 



26.6 



1,115 



315 



28.2 



1,228 



311 



25.3 



1,255 



672 



54.4 



1,364 



489 



36 



1,125 



245 



21.7 



1,028 



533 



48.1 



1,157 



330 



28 



872 



747 



85 



691 



212 



30.7 



263 



217 



82 



1,307 



60 



3.8 



866 



237 



27.3 



3,007 



1,761 



58.5 



263 



83 



31 



574 



195 



34 



Bemarks. 



Aberdeen, Idaho. 



Do , 



Albany, Greg 



Bard, CaUf 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do 



Do , 



Do 



Do 



Bishop, Calif- . .. 

 Buckeye, Ariz... 

 Burley, Idaho . . 

 Caldwell, Idaho. 

 Chico, Calif 



Do 



Chino, CaUr 



Sept. 19,1914 

 do 



Sept. 5,1914 

 May 7, 1915 

 May 12,1915 

 May 20,1915 

 May 28,1915 

 June 8,1915 

 June 17,1915 

 June 23,1915 

 July 2, 1915 



do 



July 28,1915 

 Aug. 4, 1915 



do 



Aug. 8, 1915 



do 



Oct. 12,1915 

 Nov. 10, 1914 

 Sept. 2, 1912 

 Sept. 11,1914 

 Sept. 10, 1914 

 Apr. 12,1912 

 Oct. 25,1914 

 Sept. 24,1912 



Alfalfa seed. 



Do. 

 Eed clover seed. 

 Alfalfa seed. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



