540 
JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 
[Vol. 17 
chance that the plumule or germ would be injured, but as long as the 
plumule was not injured the number of emergence holes had little 
effect upon the power to germinate, under favorable laboratory con¬ 
ditions. Under less favorable conditions the weevily beans would 
rapidly become soft and putrid. Under similar conditions putrefaction 
always became apparent first in the beans containing the greatest 
number of emergence holes. Blackeyed cowpeas became putrid more 
quickly than any other variety of cowpeas or beans tried. 
When planted in the field, as soon as decay began, the beans were 
attacked by a mite sp? which accelerated decomposition. Cold wet 
weather retarded the germination of the beans and seemed to furnish 
ideal conditions for the development of this mite, as well as for the de¬ 
velopment of the root maggot, Egle cinerella Fall., and other insects 
which aided in destroying the beans before they were out of the ground. 
Because of unfavorable weather conditions in 1921 many Southern 
California farmers were forced to replant Blackeyed cowpeas three or 
four times before a stand was secured. Under such unfavorable con¬ 
ditions beans containing weevil holes are attacked by decay organisms 
before the other beans, and are destroyed before they germinate or 
before they show at the surface of the ground. Under more favorable 
conditions beans having one or more emergence holes were observed to 
come up even while the mites were working on them. The cotyledons of 
such beans had rust brown spots where the mites had been at work. 
This color was darkest around the weevil holes. 
Growth after Germination 
For 5 successive years weevily beans have been planted for observa¬ 
tion. In 1919 the writer planted Mexican red beans as follows: 
100 
100 
6 
50 
50 
50 
Mexican 
Red Beans free from weevil injury. 
“ each having 4 or 5 weevil holes. 
“ “ “ “ 11 or 12 weevil holes. 
“ “ “ “ 1 weevil hole. 
H ll ll U 2 “ Ll 
it a u << o U << 
They were planted under favorable conditions in the middle of the 
garden. There was a noticeable difference in the size and thrift of plants 
which grew from the clean beans and from those having one hole each, 
the former being a little more vigorous. Likewise when comparing the 
plants from beans having one and two holes respectively there was a dis¬ 
tinct difference in favor of the former. The same was true when compar¬ 
ing the plants from beans having two holes and those having three holes. 
