56 



stored grain than these two weevils introduced from abroad. In warm countries, such as those 

 of southern Europe, there are many broods during the year, and the loss caused is corres- 

 pondingly great. The beetles penetrate some distance into the heap of grain ; the female 

 lays her eggs singly in the grains, and in a few months there remains nothing but a heap 

 of empty husks, tenanted by grubs and beetles. At an entomological meeting in Eng- 

 land, April 1870, it was stated that 74 tons of Spanish wheat when sifted yielded over 

 half a ton of weevils, and 145 tons of American grain gave one and three-quarter tons. 

 Fortunately these beetles do not thrive without heat, and cannot carry on their depreda- 

 tions in the cold of our winter, hence grain can be stored here for many months without 

 loss. 



The Apionidce are a group of small pear-shaped weevils the minute larvae of which 

 infest different seeds. 



Besides these we might mention as destructive the quince curculio (figure 40), Cono- 

 trachelus crataegi, which is injurious to quinces ; the imbricated snout beetle, Upiccerus 



Fig. 40. 



Fig. 41. 



imbricatus (figure 41), which injures apple and cherry trees by gnawing the twigs and 

 fruit ; the corn sphenophorus, Sphenophorus zeoe (figure 42), which damages the corn crop 



Fig. 42. 



Fig. 43. 



and the potato-stalk weevil, Baridius trinotatus (figure 43), which injures the potato. 



This paper has already reached such a length as to exclude further descriptions of our 

 weevils, species of which will from time to time be found coming into notoriety through 

 attacks on our trees or plants. Even those now only to be met with feeding on wild 

 plants may some day transfer their affections to a cultivated one, as has frequently been 

 the case hitherto. Occasionally also new species may be brought into the country with 

 imported seeds and plants. The American Entomologist recently warned importers of 

 fruit plants from England to be on their guard against introducing a weevil, which has of 

 late years been very destructive to raspberry bushes, as it vvould, doubtless, flourish here, 

 there being several closely allied species already in this country. 



The name of this possible visitor and dreaded foe is Otiorhynchus picipes, and in its 

 native land it attacks a great variety of plants and trees, such as peas, beans, turnips, 

 elms, lime trees, etc. The principal damage appears to be done by the full-grown weevils, 

 which are wingless and night feeders, hiding during the day in crevices or under bark, 

 stones, etc. They are "sometimes a dreadful pest in gardens, committing sad ravages on 

 vines in hot-houses and on wall fruit, during the night. They likewise injure raspberry 

 plants in spring by eating through the 'flowering stems and leaves, and they nibble off the 

 bark and eat out the buds of apple and pear trees." The larvae live in the roots of flowers 

 and other plants, and are very destructive to them. 



