154 
THE PLUM CURCULIO. 
Evarthrus orbatus Newman, and E. obsoletus Le Conte. The first 
mentioned (H. pennsylvanicus) was noted to be especially abundant, 
" absolutely swarming in all di- 
rections underground," and was 
thought to be the parent of the 
larva earlier alluded to. Walsh 
thus records 6 different species 
of insects, 2 of which fed upon 
the curculio, while the remaining 
4 were strongly suspected of so 
doing. An additional species 
( Chauliognatlius 'pennsylvanicus) 
(fig. 33) in the larval stage was 
found in curculio-injured peaches, and actually observed to feed 
upon the curculio grub by Mr. Swing, who forwarded the specimens 
to Walsh. 
Fig. 33. — Chauliognatlius pennsylvanicus. The larva 
of tliis beetle is recorded as a very effective enemy 
of the plum curculio. (After R iley . ) 
FOWLS AND BIRDS AS CURCULIO DESTROYERS. 
The value of chickens and other fowls in checking the curculio has 
been alluded to by several writers, notably the older ones. There is 
practically no definite observation, however, to show to what extent 
fowls feed upon these insects. Without doubt, in orchards fre- 
quented by chickens many of the beetles and possibly the larvae 
as they are leaving the fruit are found and eaten, but the good 
influence of fowls in this way is at most small, and confined prin- 
cipally to the vicinity of the house. 
On the importance of birds as curculio destroyers, there are but 
few data. Dr. Isaac Trimble was probably first to record that the 
Baltimore oriole will feed upon this insect, which fact has been con- 
firmed by subsequent observations. 
The Bureau of Biological Survey of the United States Department 
of Agriculture has found plum curculio beetles in the stomachs of 7 
species of birds, namely: Baltimore oriole (Icterus galbula), Windsor, 
Ont.; orchard oriole (Icterus spurius), Atlanticville, N. Y., Chester 
County, Pa., Marshall Hall, Md.; rose-breasted grosbeak (Zamelodia 
ludoviciana) , Portland, Conn.; bank swallow (Riparia riparia), Sing 
Sing, N. Y.; yellow-throated vireo (Lanivireo flavifrons) , Sing Sing, 
N. Y.; veery (Hylocichla fuscescens) , Syracuse, N. Y.; hermit thrush 
(Hylocichla g. pallasi), Washington, D. C. 
Dr. Trimble states also that he found this insect in the stomach of 
a toad. 
