U. S. D. A., B. B. Bui. 64, Part IV. Issued January 14, 1908. 



SOME MISCELLANEOUS RESULTS OF THE WORK 

 OF THE BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY-IX. 



AN INJURIOUS NORTH AMERICAN SPECIES OF APION, WITH 

 NOTES ON RELATED FORMS. 



By F. H. Chittenden, 

 Entomologist in Cha/rge of Breeding Experiments. 



In economic works of European authors a very considerable number 

 of species of Apion are mentioned in connection with injuries to cul- 

 tivated plants, and particularly to the Papilionaceae, for which a 

 large proportion of species show a preference. Certain European 

 forms are sufficiently abundant to receive common English names, 

 among which are the clover weevil, the Dutch-clover yellow-legged 

 weevil, the cinquefoil weevil, the tare or vetch weevil, and others, 

 the popular name being indicative of each insect's food habits. 



None of our native species, so far as known to the writer, has hith- 

 erto been recorded as injuring useful plants; hence a note received 

 from Mr. James K. Metcalfe, Silver City, X. Mex., of injuries to for- 

 age plants by Apion griscum Sin. is of interest. 



APION GFvISEUM Sm. 



September 25, 1899, our correspondent sent seedpods of the Met- 

 calfe bean (Phaseolus retusus), together with specimens of the beetle. 

 This weevil was stated to be very destructive to this plant, which has 

 been mentioned by Dr. Jared G. Smith as one of the most promising 

 of our native forage plants." The weevil was said to be also destruc- 

 tive to the "Raphael" bean (Phaseolus wrightii), and we have 

 received the same species from Phaseolus beans from Tolima, Mexico. 



This species has also been observed by the writer to develop in the 

 seedpods of a wild bean. Phasi olus polystachyus (perennis). Eight- 

 een individuals were found on opening a pod of this plant at R<>— 

 lyn, Va., April 22. One seed had harbored eleven Apions, all o\' 

 which perished owing to their inability to escape from the pod, 



"Yearbook, v. s. Department of Agriculture, for i^:>7. i>. 506. 



29 



