THE GARDEN-WEEVIL 



45 



nuts, and stored fruits of 



Fig. 38. — Larva of garden-weevil. 

 From Curtis' '' Farm Insects.' 



all the legs is apparently four-jointed, the proper fourth joint 



being reduced to a minute vestige. 

 Weevils often abound in grain, 



seeds, but are by no means 



restricted to such food; 



they are insects of very 



varied tastes. It is to be 



remarked that the name 



weevil is applied to many 



small beetles which de- 

 vour stores, irrespective of 



their structure. Thus the 



" weevil" that devours ship- 

 biscuit has neither long 



snout nor elbowed feelers ; 



it is a species of the 



same family as those which 



drill small cylindrical holes in furniture, and is technically 



an Anobium. 



A certain true weevil, which makes great havoc in green- 

 houses, is one of the 

 easiest to procure for exa- 

 mination. Many nursery- 

 men are plagued with 

 it. This weevil inhabits 

 flower-pots and frames, 

 feeding on the roots when 

 in its larval stage, and 

 on the leaves or stems 

 when it has gone through 

 its transformations, and 

 is a full-grown beetle; 

 Though most common 

 indoors, the garden weevil 

 does not require protec- 

 tion, and is sometimes 

 very mischievous in the 

 open garden or field. 

 A closely allied species 

 ravages vineries, 

 surface of the earth, and 



Fig. 



39. — Pupa of garden-weevil, with tiie 

 appendages extended. X 4. 



The eggs are laid beneath the 



