INSECTS AFFECTING THE PLUM. 



By E. B. REED, London, Ont. 



1. The Plum Curculio - * {Conotrachelus nenuphar) - Beetle-- 



2. The Grey Dagger .... (Aeronycta Psi) ------ Moth. 



3. The Oblique Banded Leaf Roller - {Lozotcenia Rosaceana) ----- Moth. 



4. The Eye-Spotted Bud Moth - - {Grapholitha oculana) Moth, 



1st. THE PLUM CURCULIO (Conotrachelus nenuphar, Herbst). 



COLEOPTERA, CuRCULIONICffii. 



There is, we suppose, no doubt but that this insect is the greatest evil with which; 

 all cultivators of the Plum, or indeed of any other stone fruit, have to contend. So 

 extensive are its destructive powers, that oftentimes whole crops of Plums are entirely 



ruined by the depredations of the grubs or larvae, of this 

 unmitigated pest, and in many places fruit growers have 

 almost given up in despair the cultivation of this delicious 

 fruit. Of late years, however, thanks to the exertions of 

 entomologists, the habits and history of this insect are 

 becoming more generally known, and means are beginning 

 to be devised by which we may hope to be able to some- 

 what check the amount of damage it occasions, and per- 

 haps, indeed, to successfully carry on against it an un- 

 ceasing and relentless warfare. A fair start has already 

 been made in the Province of Ontario towards attaining 

 this desirable end. The Fruit Growers' Association of 

 Ontario offered last year prizes of twenty, ten and five 

 dollars, to persons collecting, during the season of 1870, 

 two thousand, one thousand, and five hundred, respectively, of the Plum curculio. Four- 

 teen persons competed for these prizes, and their joint collections contained the large 

 number of fourteen thousand five hundred and fifty-three specimens of the genuine Plum 

 curculio. All the competitors in detailing their experiences, appear to be well satisfied 

 with the crop of Plums that rewarded their individual exertions, and anxious for other 

 plum growers to follow their example ; and there can be no reasonable doubt that similar 

 efforts on the part of others throughout the country, will tend eventually to thoroughly 

 check the operations of the enemy. For the interesting details of the efforts and work 

 of the above competitors, we would call the attention of our readers to the admirable 

 report on the subject, made by W. Saunders, Esq., of London, Ont., to the Fruit Growers' 

 Association. The Plum curculio is a member of an enormous group of insects known as 

 weevils, or snout beetles. The chief characteristic is the long snout into which the front 

 of the head is produced, the mouth being at the end of the snout or beak. This snout i& 



Fig. 53. 



