ON PESTS GENERALLY. 



1099 



Fig. 712. — Clay- 

 coloured Vine 

 Weevil. 



variety of outdoor and indoor plants, feeding upon the leaves and 

 shoots, while its grubs feed upon the roots, completing the work 

 of destruction. O. picipes is a dark brown insect, with yellowish 

 scales. It is somewhat smaller than the first - named and 

 exhibits not quite such diversified tastes. On Vines, Raspberries, 

 and many outdoor fruits it is found alike as a perfect insect 

 and a grub. O. tenebricosus is commonly 

 known as the Apricot Weevil, but, like 

 the other species named, it also lays 

 several other plants under contribution — 

 Nectarines, Plums, Peaches, and Rasp- 

 berries. In size it is about ^in., black, 

 covered with yellowish down. 



These three Beetles are all night feeders. 

 They are very wary; so that the greatest 

 care must be exercised to trap them. 

 Sheets of tar-covered white paper should 

 be laid down beneath the infested trees 

 at dusk. As soon as it is dark the 

 trees should be visited, and tapped. 

 The Beetles will drop on to the sticky paper, from which 

 they may be collected and destroyed. All holes in walls 

 likely to afford shelter to the pests must be stopped up in 

 winter. 



So far as the grubs are concerned, little can be done except 

 to remove the soil to a depth of several inches, and char it, 

 replacing with fresh. 



Anthonomus pomorum (Fig. 713) attacks both Apples and 

 Pears : with the former, however, the insect is usually identified. 

 The Beetles appear on the wing in early 

 spring. They are about one fifth of an 

 inch long, reddish-brown, with a somewhat 

 irregular light band towards the base of 

 the wing-cases. As will be seen in the 

 illustration, there is the prolongation of 

 the head into a beak-like organ. The 

 females puncture the unexpanded flower- 

 buds, and deposit therein an egg. The 

 larvae, when hatched, feed upon the buds, 

 causing them to prematurely fall. At this 

 period the insects are often in the pupal 

 state, and if the fallen buds could be readily 

 collected and destroyed, the numbers of the pests would be 

 sensibly diminished. The trees should also be shaken at the 

 time the insects are egg-laying, as many will be dislodged by 

 this means. When the perfect insect stage is assumed in 

 summer, the Beetles feed upon the foliage, which should be 

 sprayed with Paris Green. The winter is passed in the Beetle 



Fig. 713. — Apple 

 Blossom Weevil. 



