584 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



bear or chestnut scrub oaks. This species was noticed by Dr Harris who 

 states that it is one of the most common nut weevils known to him, and 

 lie adds that it is very common in hazelnuts, chestnuts and acorns. Dr 

 Fitch states that hickory nuts are seldom affected by worms, referring to 

 this species or perhaps also to allied forms, and adds that they are much 

 more frequently met with in hazelnuts, chestnuts and acorns. He failed to 

 rear any of these insects as was also the case with Dr Harris. Dr Packard 

 states that Professor Rile)" bred this species from a lot of acorns of 

 Quercus grisea, received from Fort Grant Ariz., July 26, 1882, and 

 Messrs Howard and R'iley record breeding this species from a lot of acorns 

 from which B. uniform is Lec. was obtained. Dr Packard also pub- 

 lished a note of Professor. Riley's to the effect that this species breeds 

 entirely on hickory nuts, while Mr Harrington states that in the neighbor- 

 hood of ( )ttawa Can., it is never found on hickory but frequents the hazel 

 almost entirely, being very numerous on these bushes in some years. 



Description. Phis species has been described by Dr Harris as follows: 



Its form is oval, its ground color dark brown; it is clothed with very 

 short rust-yellow flattened hairs which more or less conceal its original color, 

 and are disposed in spots on its wing covers. The snout is brown and pol- 

 ished, longer than the whole body, as slender as a bristle, of equal thick- 

 ness from one end to another, and slightly curved ; it bears the long elbowed 

 antennae, which are as fine as a hair, just behind the middle. This beetle 

 measures nearly 3/ IO of an inch in length, exclusive of the snout. [See pi. 

 17, fig. 19, 20 J 



The larva or grub of this species has been desribed by Dr Riley as 

 yellow, with reddish brown head and dark brown mandibles. 



Life history. Dr Harris records finding this species paired on hazelnut 

 bushes in fuly, at which time the eggs are probably laid. He adds that 

 others appear in September and October, and must pass the winter con- 

 cealed in some secure place. Mr Glover states that there are said to be 

 two broods, the last one probably hibernating in the earth, and reports Mr 

 Akhurst of Brooklyn as observing that these insects sometimes remain 

 in the larval condition over one season. Mr W H. Patton states that 

 the following species of Balaninus have been reared from acorns: B. 



