APPLE INSECTS OF MAINE. I35 



the crescent-shaped cuts. This insect is known to infest the 

 plum, peach, nectarine, apricot, cherry, apple and pear. From 

 ten to twenty-five per cent of the early apples examined in July, 

 showed the characteristic cut. 



After the first of August but few cuts, made by this insect, 

 were found and we are led to believe that they prefer the earlier 

 varieties, and that the apples punctured do not mature. A large 

 per cent of the larvae which hatched did not reach maturity. 

 We, however, succeeded in transforming enough to identify the 

 species. It would seem that the plum curculio does not flourish 

 well in the apple and attacks it in the absence of its favorite fruit. 

 The decline in the cultivation of plums, due to the ravages of 

 this pest, and the black knot, will account for its attacking 

 apples. 



Description. 



Egg. — Oblong, oval, pearly white. Visible to the naked eye, and can 

 be found readily by examining the crescent-shaped cut made by the 

 female. 



Larva. — When young, tiny, soft, footless ; head distinct, horny. When 

 full grown it is usually of a glossy yellowish white, but varies in color 

 with the food ; head light brown or yellowish. Along each side is a light 

 line, below which is a row of black bristles and above it a less distinct 

 one, and toward the hind extremity a few pale hairs ; length about two- 

 fifths of an inch. The larva is so transparent, the internal organs are 

 plainly seen through the skin, imparting a reddish color to the central 

 parts of the body. 



Perfect Insect. — A beetle, belonging to the family of insects known as 

 weevils or snout beetles. It is blackish or greyish, rough, with a black 

 shining hump on each wing case near the middle, behind which is a dull 

 ochre-yellow band marked with whitish about the middle ; each thigh 

 has two small teeth on the under side; snout short. Length of insect 

 about one-fifth of an inch. 



Life History. 

 The beetles hibernate in secluded spots during the winter and 

 appear on the wing about the time the plum trees blossom. As 

 soon as the young fruit forms, the eggs are deposited. The 

 female, when about to lay an egg, makes a minute incision with 

 her jaws and then, inserting the snout, enlarges the hole suffi- 

 ciently to hold the tgg, turns around, deposits the egg, thrusts it 

 to the bottom of the hole with the snout, then cuts a crescent- 

 shaped incision around one side of the opening. 



