220 INJURIOUS AND USEFUL INSECTS 



cross. 5-6 mm. long. The larva is thick, fleshy, with thoracic 

 legs and "anal foot," slate-coloured, often covered protectively 

 with its own slimy excrement ; when disturbed, it emits an 

 inky fluid from the mouth. The eggs are laid on the leaves 

 and shoots of asparagus. The larva is full-fed in about a 

 fortnight, when it enters the earth, makes a cell, and pupates, 

 the beetle emerging in another fortnight. There may be three 

 generations in one year. This beetle is sometimes a serious 

 pest to asparagus growers ; it is local, but often abundant 

 where it occurs. It is hardly found in England except in the 

 southern counties. 



Family Bruchidse (pea-weevils). Small beetles, whose 

 larvae live in seeds, especially of leguminous plants. There 

 is no distinct beak, the antennae are not elbowed, and the 

 wing-covers are short, not covering the whole abdomen. 



The larva, as in Rhynchophora, is footless, or bears mere 

 vestiges of limbs. The eggs are laid in young flowers, and the 

 larvae enter and feed upon the growing seeds. Before pupating 

 they gnaw a hole which almost reaches the surface, and is only 

 covered by a thin skin, which the emerging beetle tears open. 

 The seeds affected can be distinguished by their lightness 

 (they generally float in water) and by a depression in the 

 skin, or a hole, if the beetle has already emerged. 



Sub-order VII. — Rhynchophora (snout beetles) 



Head prolonged into a beak or snout, with the mouth- 

 organs at its extremity. Tarsus four-jointed, the third joint 

 at least expanded. Larvae usually without legs. 



Family Curculionidae (weevils). Antennae elbowed, with 

 long basal joint. 



The most injurious and frequent pests among the weevils are 

 the following : — 



Clover-weevil (various species of Apion). The larvae are 

 small grubs which devour the flower-heads of clover and other 

 leguminous plants. 



Garden-weevils (various species of Otiorhynchus, see p. 44), 

 which are often serious pests in greenhouses and vineries, or 

 attack raspberries, strawberries, and other garden plants. 



Pea-weevil (Sitones lineaius). This is sometimes found 

 on peas in vast numbers, feeding on the leaves, which become 



