PURPLE CLOVER WEEVILS. 
7 
the shanks of the front pair of legs of a yellowish colour, or some 
shade of brown or reddish. In the A. apricans {subfemoratum, Kirby) 
these portions are described by Curtis as lighter or yellower than in 
Apion AFRICANS, Herbst .; A. assimile, Kirby, 
6, 7, A. apricans; 2—5, maggot and pupa ; 8, 9, A. assimile (all nat. size and 
magnified); 1, maggot feeding, magnified. 
the other species, and there are other differences, but these are so 
slight that at one time the two kinds were considered to be mere 
varieties. 
There is a third kind (the A. trifolii), which is very like the above 
both in shape and colour, which is said to occur sometimes in large 
numbers on Purple Clover. The Apion apricans, more especially known 
as the Purple Clover Weevil, may be generally described as follows :— 
Black ; proboscis curved and punctured. Horns black, with base of a 
brownish yellow, and placed at the middle of the proboscis. The 
thorax or fore body cylindrical, smaller before, and punctured. Head 
punctured, channelled between the eyes. Wing-cases with deep furrows, 
the spaces between convex and slightly punctured ; the furrow punc¬ 
tured at regular distances. Legs black, with yellowish or reddish 
thighs, and the fore shanks chiefly of the same colour. 
The three kinds, however, above mentioned cannot be distinguished 
from each other without the help of a good magnifier, and, as far as 
I am aware, their habits and life-histories are considered to be alike. 
After careful examination, especially of the minute leg-joint, 
scientifically called the trochanter, I incline to think that there were 
very likely both A. apricans and A. trifolii present in the specimens 
sent me from Somersetshire. 
In the beginning of September heads of Purple Clover infested 
by “Clover Weevil” were forwarded to me by Mr. Burch from 
Girleston, West Buckland, Somerset, where the maggots were 
then doing much harm to seeding Clover. About fifty acres 
(which were being saved for seed) had then been observed to be 
