185 



pears in May, and feeds on the young leaves of the 

 peach, apricot, plum, pear and apple. 



Otiorhyncus (Curculio) sulcatus, feeds upon both 

 the leaves and fruit of the peach. Mr. Curtis de- 

 scribes it as a dull black weevil, with a stout probos- 

 cis, at the extremity of which is the mouth ; the 

 thorax is granulated, and the elytra are rough, with 

 several elevated lines and minute ochre-coloured dots 

 placed somewhat transversely ; it has no wings. The 

 period for the appearance of these weevils depends 

 upon temperature, for May is mentioned by some, 

 and June by others, as the months when they are 

 mischievous in gardens, and in hothouses much ear- 

 lier. Mr. E. Edwards says that he has seen them in 

 an early vinery at Studley Castle about the end of 

 January, when they make great havoc amongst the 

 young shoots and foliage ; and from that time until 

 the end of April they feed upon the buds and leaves, 

 always high up, and never seen in the day. The eggs 

 are deposited a little beneath the surface of the earth, 

 and produce white maggots, and these live at the 

 roots of the tree, rendering the plants weak and 

 sickly ; some say about June the maggots change to 

 pupa, whilst others state that they live through the 

 winter, and undergo their metamorphoses in the 

 spring ; however this may be, they remain in the 

 chrysalis state only 14 days. The maggots also do 

 great mischief to succulent and other plants in pots. 



