HISTORY OF INSECTS. 



CHAPTER IX. 



HISTORY OF THE APPLE WEEVIL." 



Class Coleoptera. t Genus Anthouomus. 



Order Curculionitcs. | Species Pomorum. 



157. The apple weevil is frequently in Here- 

 fordshire the cause of the total failure of the crop 

 of apples, and of a consequent heavy loss to the 

 grower ; it is a small beetle, about half the size 

 of a grain of wheat, of a reddish brown colour, 

 with the appearance of a letter V obscurely 

 chalked on its back. 



158. Witli the first sunshiny day in March, 

 these weevils leave their winter quarters, — the 

 crevices in the bark, — crawl up the trunk along 

 the twigs, perch themselves so as to receive the 

 full benefit of the sun's rays, and plume them- 

 selves all over in the same manner that a cat 

 washes her face with her hands, stretch their 

 limbs one at a time, unfold their wings, and fly 

 away in search of their consorts. 



• From RusTicus, in Entomological Magazine. 

 E 2 



