108 
THE PLUM CURCULIO. 
In the article on the curculio by Riley and Howard, 1 it is stated that 
although the females lay their eggs chiefly during the daytime, the 
insect is essentially nocturnal, flying freely during warmer nights and 
only seeking shelter when the nights are cold. Prof. J. M. Stedman 2 
says that the females may deposit eggs during a part of the day and 
part of the night, or all day if the weather be cloudy, but do not appear 
to enjoy egg laying during the heat of the day. They frequently 
drop to the ground during the middle of the forenoon, hiding until 
late in the afternoon, when they fly to the trees and again begin work. 
In connection with other observations on beetles in confinement, 
Prof. Crandall determined the number of eggs and feeding punctures 
during day and night, respectively, which data it would seem could be 
fairly held to indicate their general activity under normal conditions. 
Of the total of 5,631 feeding punctures recorded, 2,594 were made 
during the day and 3,037 at night, a balance of 443 in favor of night 
feeding. In regard to oviposition, of the total eggs recorded (1,954), 
1,037 were laid during the day and 917 at night (6.30 p. m. to 8.30 
a. m.), a balance of 120 in favor of the day for oviposition. 
Records made in 1906, at Myrtle, Ga., by Messrs. Girault and 
Rosenfeld bear out the conclusions evident from Crandall's observa- 
tions. April 9, beetles were captured by jarring peach trees and 
when found mating later in the day were separately confined in jars 
with wild plums. Beginning April 12, observations were made at 
9 a. m. and 9 p. m. each day until June 29, except in the case of pair 
No. 5, as shown in detail in Table LVI. After June 29 the records are 
not complete. 
Table LVI. — Comparative activity during day and night of Jive pairs of the plum curculio 
in feeding and oviposition, Myrtle, Ga., 1906. 
Pair No. 1. 
Pair No. 2. 
Tair No. 3. 
] 
^air 
N*o. 4. 
Pair No. 5. 
Dates of e\ami 
nation. 
Eggs. 
Feeding 
punc- 
tures. 
Eggs. 
Feeding 
punc- 
tures. 
Eggs. 
Feeding 
punc- 
tures. 
Eggs. 
Feeding 
punc- 
tures. 
Eggs. 
Feeding 
punc- 
tures. 
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Rept. Comm. Agr. for 1888, p. 61. 
2 Bui. 64, Missouri Station, p. 16. 
