1838. HOUSE—No. 72. 81 
the substance of Prof. Peck’s communication respecting this insect. 
I would observe that these insects are very abundant in the perfect 
state during the months of April and May, from which it is to be 
inferred that they secrete themselves somewhere during the winter, 
and deposit their eggs in the spring, or perhaps do not usually 
leave the trees before spring. 
Rhynchenus Nenuphar, was scientifically described and figured 
by Herbst in the year 1797. Its history has been investigated by 
several American writers, particularly by Prof. Peck, who called it 
R. cerasi. The plum and cherry trees have, for a long time, 
been annually disfigured by irregular swellings on the young branches. 
These swellings or warts are diseases of the bark, caused by the punc- 
tures of the weevil and the residence of the grubs. The sap-vessels 
being wounded and irritated by the insects, throw out an increased 
quantity of fluid, this is re-absorbed by the bark, which is conse- 
quently swollen and thickened in substance ; the over-stretched cuti- 
ele bursts, and the swelling becomes irregular, granulated, and full of 
fissures. ‘The local exhaustion of sap, and the pressure of the tu- 
mors, compress the wood, and the limb gradually perishes above 
the seat of the disease. From one of the warts of the cherry 
tree Prof. Peck obtained the weevils in their perfect state, which 
proved to be the same insects whose Jarve were known to cause the 
premature ripening and fall of peaches, apricots, and plums. From 
the latter fruit I bred the same insect, differing in no respect from 
that described by Prof. Peck. A paper by Mr. Tilton on this in- 
sect was published by Dr. Mease, in his Domestic Encyclopedia, 
from which it has been repeatedly republished in the various horticul- 
tural treatises of this country. 
Melsheimer, in his catalogue, observes, that the larva lives under 
the bark of the peach-tree. We have Prof. Peck’s authority for 
the fact that it is the cause of the excrescences on the cherry-tree, 
and further observation has proved that the same insect deforms the 
limbs of the plum-tree. According to several memoranda the 
perfect insect is found during most of the spring and summer months. 
Tts first appearance is in May, when it begins puncturing the small fruit 
with its rostrum, and deposits in the puncture thus made af egg, which 
ina short time becomes a larva or maggot. This worm eats into 
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