The Spotted Larinus 
called him an artichoke-thief. The group of 
the Larini, in fact, establishes its offspring 
in the fleshy base of the flowers of the 
Carduacez, the thistle, the cotton-thistle, the 
centaury, the carline thistle and others, 
which, in structure and flavour, recall more 
or less remotely the artichoke of our tables. 
This is its special province. The Larinus is 
charged with the thinning out of the fierce, 
encroaching thistle. 
Glance at the pink, white or blue heads of 
a Carduacea. Long-beaked insects swarm, 
awkwardly diving into the mass of florets. 
What are they? Larini. Open the head, 
split its fleshy base. Surprised by the air 
and by the light, plump, white, legless grubs 
sway to and fro, each isolated in a small 
recess. What are these grubs? Larinus- 
larve. 
Here accuracy:calls for a reservation. A 
few other Weevils, related to those whose 
history we are considering, are also partial, 
on behalf of their family, to the fleshy 
receptacles with the artichoke flavour. No 
matter: the species that take the lead in 
numbers, frequency and handsome pro- 
portions are the authorized exterminators of 
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