600 Quartet'ly Report of the Consulting Entomologist. 
When full fed, the larva forms an oval cell without any lining 
to it, about two inches below the surface of the ground in which 
it changes to the chrysalis state. This is white at first, with 
the undeveloped limbs folded be- 
Fig. 1 — Pea-weevil (Sitona neath it, and is armed with two 
lineata). spines at the extremity of the 
somewhat truncate tail. The 
beetles (see Fig. 1, magnified), 
which began to appear from the 
chrysalids in the first week in 
July, are of the size given on the 
A i ^ \ root, and are at first of a creamy 
' ^ white, with pitchy head and black 
eyes. When fully coloured, they 
are black, covered with silvery 
grey scales, and having three light 
stripes running along the back, 
Larra, Chrysalis, and Beetle (natural size ii - i,i i j/^i \ j 
and magnified). behind the head (the thorax), and 
fine whitish lines alternating with 
darker ones along the wing-cases. The horns, shanks, and feet 
are red. 
It appears that the pea-weevil does little mischief in its larval 
state, whilst feeding on the roots, compared to what it causes 
later on in its fully developed stage by feeding on the leaves, 
especially when the young plants are retarded in growth by 
bad weather or other unfavourable influences. It is almost 
impossible to destroy it on the plants, in consequence of the 
weevils dropping down as if they were dead at the approach of 
a footstep. It has been, however, noticed by Mr. Hart that 
where pea-weevils abound they will come up to the surface in 
great numbers immediately after the ground has been firmly 
pressed. In this way heavy rolling was found to do much good 
last year, and probably by taking the roller to and fro many 
of the weevils would be destroyed, and the use of the hoe 
afterwards helps to give a start to the young plants. 
The pea-weevils live through the winter, and I have found 
that these hybernated specimens laid white roundish eggs in 
profusion in captivity, when taken off the plants in the spring. 
Therefore it may fairly be conjectured that the weevils then go 
down into the ground to deposit their eggs on the roots, where the 
grubs hatched from them are shortly afterwards to be found. 
The history of the clover-root weevil (Sitona puncticollis) * has 
been traced by mvself from specimens forwarded to me by 
Mr. Christy, of Boynton Hall, near Chelmsford, together with 
* Sitone* punctieolUs, Schonh. 
