DESCRIPTION AND SEASONAL HISTORY. 21 



offspring of parents developing during the preceding spring. Eight 

 apparently fresh adults taken from the field on August 18 by Mr. 

 Urbahns were observed on the 21st to have oviposited to the number 

 of about 20 eggs, in confinement. Nine additional eggs were found 

 on the 23d. August 29, 10 adults, also seemingly fresh and un- 

 rubbed, were confined in a glass vial, and the following day about 

 50 eggs were found in the vial. Under the same date 112 beetles, 

 supposed from appearances to belong to the spring generation, were 

 collected by another member of the force at an elevation of about 

 7,000 feet, and the following day 75 eggs were found in the box in 

 which they were confined. Under the artificial conditions not all of 

 these eggs hatched. This state of affairs continued and was observed 

 by several of .the men to occur up to the end of the season. 

 While the beetles go into hibernation in nearly per- 

 fect unrubbed condition, they emerge in spring with 

 scales and pubescence removed to such an extent that 

 they are almost black in color, smooth, and shining. 

 This appearance so contrasts with that of the newly- 

 emerged adults of the new generation that the latter 

 can be easily separated at sight, and it was these latter 

 that were again and again observed to oviposit and their 

 eeres to hatch out larvae. 



'to& 



The Larva. 



Fig. 5— The al- 

 falfa weevil: 

 Larva. Much 

 enlarged. 



The larval stage is shown in dorsal view in figure 4 and (Author's a- 



, ,. • n -!-•-!• i • i lustration.) 



m lateral view in figure t>. it is during this stage that 



the pest accomplishes the greatest destruction, although the beetles 



are of themselves capable of ruining the second hay crop of alfalfa. 



Mr. Titus 1 states that soon after hatching from the eggs the larvae, 

 which at that time are quite active, begin feedhig in the interior of 

 the stalk, sometimes remaining there for 3 or 4 days, and isolated 

 examples have been found that have passed into the second stage, 

 still inside the stalk. Larvae have been found inside hollow stems 

 several inches away from the place where they hatched, working their 

 way upward, and later issuing through a feeding puncture. Usually 

 after 3 or 4 days they come out and work their way up the outside of 

 the stems and conceal themselves in a leaf bud, usually at the tip of 

 the plant. 



That the very young larvae are capable of traveling considerable 

 distances to reach their food supply is not only indicated in Mr. Titus's 

 published statement, but emphasized by the observations of Mr. C. N. 

 Ainslie under date of April 28, 1910. The actions of newly hatched 



' Bulletin 110, Utah Agr. Coll. Exp. Sta., pp. 39, 40, September, 1910. 



