accidental distribution into uninfested areas, although there is no cer- 
tainty that the^ would not recover and reproduce v/here the climate is more 
temperate than in the Yuma Valley. In this regard, however, it appears 
likely that the current requirement that flax seed be shipped direct to the 
mills for immediate processing, or fumigated when it is to be sold for seed, 
would practically remove the possibility of weevils escaping. 
The most likely means of v/eevil spread would be through shipment of 
baled alfalfa hay and date palm offshoots. However, fumigation of these is 
required. A variety of other products shipped from Yuma Valley may possibly 
spread the weevil, but none of these have been investigated as yet. Spread 
may also occur through the medium of vehicular traffic and through natural 
dissemination, but nothing is definitely known of the possibilities in either 
case. 
THE ADULT STAGE 
Description 
The adult of Hyp era brun n eipennis (fig. 1, A and B) is a small snout 
beetlG approximately three-sixteenths of an inch in length. The newly 
emerged weevil is bronze in color but within a short while becomes brown. 
The adult loses its covering of hairs and becomes shiny black when old. 
In appearance the adult is very similar to the alfalfa weevil (H. post ica ) , 
but because of a slight difference in the contour of the back it is possible 
to distinguish between the two species. 
Emergence of Adults 
The first new adults during the 1940 season were collected from 
sourclover on March 13. The finding of pupae 2 weeks before, however, 
suggests that a few adults may have emerged slightly earlier. After March 13 
the abundance of new adults increased steadily to a peak of 4 per square 
foot in sourclover on April 22, in spite of the fact that small numbers began 
CO migrate from the field to aestivation quarters about April 1. On April 29 
adults were equally abundant, but the scarcity of cocoons and larvae showed 
clearly that production of adults was virtually completed. Therefore, it is 
indicated that the heaviest emergence of new adults occurred during the 6- 
week period from mid-March to late in April. 
Post-emergence Activity of Adults 
After emergence from cocoons, new adults fed heavily on the nearest 
available succulent leguminous host, principally on the leaves. Large num- 
bers of adults partially or completely defoliated some plants and also fed 
to some extent on the epidermis of stems. The post-emergence feeding period 
lasted from 2 to 3 weeks. Feeding ceased rather abruptly, and most adults 
migrated from fields in search of places for aestivation, where they remained 
in,:.ctive throughout the summer and early fall months. 
