6y6 Apple Blossom Weevil. [dec, 



will not readily fly"; Henneguy* states that both sexes fly 

 easily, and with equal frequency. Newmanf in writing of the 

 life history of this insect states : " With the first sunshiny day 

 in March these weevils leave their winter quarters, crawl up 

 the trunk and along the twigs, perch themselves so as to receive 

 the full benefit of the sun's rays, and plume themselves with 

 their legs and feet all over, trident and all, just in the same 

 manner that a cat washes her face with her paws ; they then 

 stretch out one leg at a time, cramped no doubt by the long 

 confinement ; they lift up their wing-cases and unfold two 

 large, transparent wings, which, though twice as long as the 

 wing-cases, were neatly folded up and hidden under them, 

 and then, launching themselves into the air, they go roving 

 about the orchards and gardens." 



Numerous other writers might be cited for and against the 

 power of the female to fly, and it is evident that the information 

 we possess is very uncertain. The observations made during 

 1904, when this insect was particularly prevalent in different 

 parts of Worcestershire support the contention that the females 

 fly to the trees. In one orchard, where the weevil had done 

 considerable damage, after the trees had been sprayed with the 

 caustic soda emulsion in March, three trees were heavily grease- 

 banded, whilst those immediately surrounding them had the 

 old grease-bands removed. On examination later it was found 

 that the blossom buds of all the trees were equally badly 

 attacked, indeed, the three trees with the new grease-bands on 

 were a little worse than the remainder. The grease-bands 

 were very carefully and frequently examined, but on no occasion 

 was a single beetle found. The material used was of such a 

 sticky nature that it was perfectly impossible for any insect to 

 •cross the band ; it may therefore be safely concluded that so 

 far as these three trees were concerned the female beetles did 

 not crawl up the stems and on to the branches, but in all 

 probability flew there. 



On reaching the tree, copulation takes place, after which the 

 female beetle commences to deposit her eggs in the unopened 

 blossom buds. They are most active on still warm days, and 

 when such conditions prevail the females may be seen " hasten- 



* Bull, du Ministere de 1' Agriculture. 1891. 



f- " The Letters of Rusticus," London, 1849, P- 82. 



