Insects Affecting Sweet Potatoes 



14? 



While it is not known definitely how much cold this 

 insect can withstand, it is reasonahle to suppose that 

 if it should be transported to the northern states it 

 would be protected from the cold winters by being 

 housed with the potatoes. It is a prevailing opinion 

 that while the insects would probably, freeze out in the 

 fields, the protection given to potatoes in storage will 

 also protect the weevils and perpetuate them from year 

 to year. 



Description. 



The adult of the sweet potato weevil, is a snout beetle 

 of an ant-like appearance, about Vi inch long, with 

 metallic blue wing-cov- 

 ers, the thorax brick 

 red, head dark blue, and 

 the legs brick red. The 

 antenna? are long and 

 have clubs at the end. 

 The male bears the 

 longer larger club, thus 

 distinguishing him 



from the female. The 

 eggs are pale yellow, 

 partially oval, and 

 somewhat narrowed at 

 the end which is at- 

 tached to the potato. 

 The surface is not shining or polished, but is granu- 

 lated. The length is about /4o of an inch. The larva 

 when full grown is cylindrical and robust ; the segments 

 are permanent and rounded, color practically pure 



FiGCEE 16. — The sweet potato 

 weevil : Adult, greatly enlarged. 



