140 



COLEOPTEEA OE BEETLES. 



on the roots of peas can easily be killed in gardens by water- 

 ing with soluble phrenyl, referred to later in the summary on 

 insecticides. 



Bean-seed Weevils (BruchiDzE). 



The Bruchidffl belong to the second group of weevils, which 

 have a short rostrum and straight antennae. They are mostly 

 brownish-red beetles with broad bodies and small in size, seldom 

 more than one-eighth of an inch in length. Brudius rufimanvs 



is one of the commonest. The 

 female deposits her eggs in the 

 developing bean, a single egg 

 only in each seed as a rule, 

 although I have seen more on 

 rare occasions. The larva lives 

 inside the bean and there pu- 

 pates, remaining inside the seed 

 throughout the winter. Infested 

 seed can always be told by a 

 small round depression on one 

 side. On breaking through the 

 thin skin that covers it, the 

 larva or pupa will be found in 

 a cavity inside the seed. The 

 beetle hatches some days before it makes its exit, which it does 

 through the round depression just referred to. A distinct hole 

 is then seen in the seed, from which the beetle has escaped. 

 Such infested seed germinates, but does not produce a healthy 

 plant. Often the seed is sown before the Bruchi have hatched, 

 and thus they will be in a good position to continue their attack 

 upon the crop again. Infested seed should never be purchased ; 

 but if it is, it should be siibjected to either of the following 



Fig. 60. — Bean Beetle (Bnichus 

 intfimaiiMs). 



1, Infested bean ; 2 and 3, beetle, nat. 

 size, and niagnilied. (Whitehead.) 



