25 
account of its life cycle as observed in the seed room of the experiment 
station at Ames, Iowa, without, however, indicating the time of the 
observations or atmospheric conditions. 
During the latter part of August of the past year specimens of ti 
species were received for identification from 3Ir. A. L. Quaintance, of 
the Florida Experiment Station, 1 and during the autumn living material 
of both was found in this city. 
The lateness of the season when living material was obtained and 
press of other work have prevented any extended comparative observa- 
tions of these species, but experiments conducted at a former time upon 
chinensis throw new light on their development and enable an estimate 
of the number of generations annually produced. 
As there has always been considerable confusion in 
regard to the identity of these two species, and as 
both are of growing importance, economically, it 
has been thought well to introduce illustrations of 
each and to point out the specific differences. 
THE SPECIES COMPARED. 
The two species of cowpea weevils resemble each 
other, after a manner, superficially, but there are fig. i.—Bmchus cMnen 
excellent and very obvious characters for their sep 
aration. 
Bruchus chinensis is the more robust species and it may be at once 
distinguished by the two large, elevated eburneous, or ivory-like, basal 
thoracic lobes, and strongly pectinate antennae of the 
male. The ground color is dull red, sometimes more 
or less blackish, and is ornamented with yellow and 
gray or white pubescence. The pattern or' the elytra 
varies considerably, that shown in the illustration 
(fig. 7) being the prevailing form of specimens bred 
in stored seed. The dark spots at the sides are not 
round and conspicuous as in 4-maculatus and the 
apical spots are sometimes wanting, while often black 
is the prevailing color of the dorsal surface. 
Bruchus quadrimaculatus is the more slender spe- 
cies and differs from the preceding by the following 
characters: The ground color is black, with black, 
gray, and white pubescence. The antennae are serrate and not pee 
tinate in the male. The basal lobe of the thorax is marked with 
white pubescence only. The elytra are longer, and the gray and white 
pubescence is so arranged as to leave the four large black spots, whence 
the species derives its name. Two are in the middle of the elytra on 
the margin and two at the apices. These markings are variable and are 
sis: male — enlarged 
(original). 
Fig. 8. — Bruchus 4-mac- 
ulatus: female — en- 
larged (original). 
'The same gentleman has given, Bince the above was written, a brief aooount of 
both species in Bulletin No. ;>»;. of the Florida station. 
