47 



pupating near the portion upon which the last feeding was accom- 

 plished. 



The pupa is short and robust, about 4 mm. in length, and nearly 

 o mm. in breadth at its widest part. In color it is pale amber, Avith 

 dark-brown eyes. The snout lies close to the ventral surface of the 

 body. Above, the Aving ]:>ads are conspicuous, and below them the 

 legs protrude. The antennae, arising from the snout, are folded 

 below the head, and appear dorsally as knobbed appendages at the 

 sides of the wing pads. The abdomen tapers to a point behind and, 

 the outer segments being free, the tip can wriggle nervously, as it 

 often does when the pupa is disturbed. The pupa is covered w^th 

 tubercles, from each of Avhich arises a long hair or spine. A short 

 time before transformation to adult the color becomes much darker, 

 the abdomen, hoAvever, retaining the original hue. The pupal stage 

 occupies from six to ten days. Upon the full development of the 

 adult the cell is broken open and the Aveevil emerges into the cavity 

 of the pepper j^od, remaining there until hardened, after which it 

 cuts its way out through the pod Avail (PL I, fig. 2, d). The color 

 immediate^ upon emergence is light yelloAv, but in a few days this 

 changes to a darker yelloAv-broAvn, becoming, finally, almost black, 

 Avith the exception of the bases of the femora, Avhich are orange. 



FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS. 



So far as is knoAvn to the writer, this insect has no other food 

 plants than peppers; yet it is certain that it can exist upon at least 

 three A^arieties of the plant, including the common '• sAveet pepper " 

 and tAvo A^arieties of the so-called " hot pepper." The Aveevil may 

 also, perhaps, live upon a wild pepper which is common in Avooded 

 localities in southw^estern Texas. The fruit of this plant, a small 

 red berry, has an exceptionally pungent flavor and is used rather 

 extensively in the manufacture of a A^ariety of pepper sauce. There 

 is a possibility that this " Avild pepper " may j^rove to be the original 

 food plant, but thus far the weevil has not been obserA^ed feeding 

 U23on it. 



The young larva, Avhen first hatched, feeds upon the soft, pulpy 

 tissue forming the interior lining of the pod. This food it can obtain 

 in abundance, since it is here, in the majority of cases, that the egg 

 is deposited. Usually the larva does not attack the seeds until it 

 has attained considerable groAvth, except in those cases in Avhich the 

 egg is placed in a cavity excavated for its reception in a seed. The 

 seeds, extending out laterall}^ in a cluster from the bases of attach- 

 ment, offer secure lodgment for the larva, AA^hich eats aAvay the outer 

 ^dges and excavates the interior, thereby causing serious injury 

 (PI. I, fig. 2, c). The adult Aveevils appear to feed equally aacII in the 

 fruit at different stages of groAvth, although the small, tender buds 



