CHAPTER VIII. 



ORDER I. COLEOPTERA (Continued). 



PSEUDOTETRAMERA. 



Bruchidse. 



Genus BRUCHUS ( Linn.). 

 Antenna filiform, slightly and gradually thickened at the tips : elytra oblong quadrate. 



Bruchus pisi. ( Plate ii, fig. 3.) 



Insect small and hairy, ovoid, gray : head black ; thorax gray or mottled, with a central 

 posterior whitish spot ; elytra gray or mottled, with small inconspicuous dots or spots 

 posteriorly ; posterior abdomen with two black oval spots, and two just beneath the 

 ends of the wings ; scales black. 

 The female pcabug deposits its eggs in the tender peapod, when the pea is soft and im- 

 mature ; and when the larva is hatched, it feeds upon the matter with which it is sur- 

 rounded, until it has attained its full growth, when it bores a gallery to the surface, merely 

 leaving the surface skin untouched, ready to be pushed off by the head of the perfect 

 insect when ready to make its exit in April. An infinity of the young grubs are destroyed 

 in preparing green peas for the table ; but whether the epicure finds any difference in the 

 taste of pure and infected vegetables, we are not informed. 



Seed peas more than a year old do not retain the living insects, and should therefore be 

 preferred in planting new districts : if these cannot be had, the seed may be immersed 

 in scalding water for a short time ; a process which does not appear to destroy the ger- 

 minating power of leguminous vegetables, if carefully performed. This is proved by the 

 fact that seeds of the locust tree will grow in a single season, if boiling water be poured 

 over them and allowed to stand until it has become cold. 



