27 
Development of the insect. — The life history of this insect as observed 
by the writer in the District of Columbia is in brief as follows: 
The eggs are deposited on the outside of the growing pods, to which 
they adhere tightly, and the larva' hatch from them in four, five, or 
more days, depending upon the season and other circumstances, and 
burrow into the pods to the developing seed which they penetrate. In 
two or three weeks in midsummer weather the larva has attained full 
growth and now transforms to pupa. This state lasts from about four 
or five days in warm weather to considerable longer in cooler weather, 
when the beetle form is assumed. The beetle gnaws its way out of the 
seed in the same manner as do the other species of Bruchus by cutting 
a round flap through the skin of the pod. The first brood which 
develops in the field attains maturity at least by the third week of 
September, and perhaps earlier if we may judge by the appearance 
of the exit holes in the pods and the further fact that certain varie- 
ties of the cowpea mature earlier than the third week. 
The beetles continue to develop in the dried and stored seed for 
several generations, in fact until the seed becomes completely ruined 
for any practical purpose and unfit even for the sustenance of this 
insect. In a very short time decomposition sets in inviting swarms of 
mites and the beetles are forced to other quarters in their struggle 
for existence. 
Under ordinary circumstances six or seven broods probably develop 
anually in this latitude. 
It is yet early to say with positiveness what varieties of seed are most 
subject to infestation by this insect. The " Unknown" cowpea seems 
to be the favorite variety in the Department plats; the seed of Phase- 
olus radiatus is quite to their liking, and they develop perfectly well in 
common peas and chick-peas (deer arietinum). The Ceyloriese seeds 
in which they are found, and at present known to the writer only by 
their native names "kolu" and "muneta," were very small and the size 
of the beetles breeding in them was in proportion. 
Natural enemies. — This weevil is attacked while in the immature con- 
dition by two or more chalcidid parasites of the subfamily Pteroma 
lime; but the species have not yet been studied and need not be further 
mentioned now. 
During the month of November an adult of this weevil that had very 
recently issued from a lot of cowpeas was found with many individuals 
of Eeteropus ventricosus'Sewp.jB common and omnivorous mite, attached 
to it, 
THE FOUR-SPOTTED III. AN WEEVIL. 
Divisional records of occurrences. — Our first experience with Bruchus 
4-maculatus dates no farther back than in 1885, when this species was 
found at the first Atlanta Cotton Exposition infesting "black eyed 
table beans" from Texas. At the World's Fair in 1893 it was observed 
by the writer breeding in great numbers in beans and cowpeas in the 
