THE COWPEA WEEVIL. 85 
hind legs dark rufous or brownish. Hind femora armed near the tip with an 
acute tooth on the outer and inner side. 
Length 2.5-3.5 mm.; width 1.5-1.8 mm. Smaller individuals, 
dwarfed, are frequently seen. 
THE EGG. 
The egg is ovate in outline, somewhat variable, but usually less 
than two-thirds as wide as. long, rather broadly rounded anteriorly 
and more narrowly posteriorly, the extreme apex rounded, convex 
exteriorly and flattened interiorly. The attached surface is variable, 
but of considerable quantity, flattened upon the seed upon which it is 
deposited, a lateral view presenting the impression of an egg severed 
in half. When freshly laid it is clear, translucent. The surface is 
smooth, shining, with no visible sculpture. 
Measurements of five eggs gave the following figures: 
No. 1. Length 0.4S mm. ; width 0.27 mm. 
2. Length 0.49 mm. ; width 0.32 mm. 
3. Length 0.5S mm. ; width 0.31 mm. 
4. Length 0.51 mm. ; width 0.33 mm. 
5. Length 0.49 mm. ; width 0.31 mm. 
The above show a variation of from 0.48 to 0.58 mm. in length and 
from 0.27 to 0.33 mm. in width. 
The empty eggshells on the seeds or pods in the course of time 
become opaque gray. 
THE POSTEMBRYONIC LARVA. 
The newly hatched larva (fig. 21, c) resembles somewhat that of 
the pea weevil. It is of course smaller, the minute temporary legs 
(see e) are apparently not jointed, and the prothoracic plate (d) 
bears blunt rounded teeth instead of acute spines. 
SYNONYMY. 
Pachyxnerus chinensis L. 
Curculio chinensis Linn., Syst. Nat., 10th ed. f p. 386, 1758. 
Bruchus scuteUaris Fab., Entom. Syst., vol. 1, Pt. II, p. 372, 1792. 
Bruchus pectinicornis L., Syst. Nat., 12th ed., p. 605, pi. 16, fig. 7. 
Bruchus adustus Motsch., Bui. Mosc, vol. 4, p. 228, 1873. 
Bruchus rufus DeG., Mem., vol. 5, p. 281. 
DISTRIBUTION. 
This species is cosmopolitan in the widest sense of the word. 
Until comparatively recent years there appeared to be a belief preva- 
lent among persons who have observed the cowpea-inhabiting weevils 
that the cowpea weevil was not so firmly established in the United 
States as the four-spotted form. It is not only thoroughly acclimated 
throughout the Gulf region, but appears to be found generally in 
temperate regions at least as far north as the District of Columbia, 
where it practically may be taken nearly every year in the field. In 
