. Bulletin. Insects; Insect pests; Entomology; Insects; Insect pests; Entomology. 36 CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS. FEEDING HABITS. The larvae of this beetle feed on the roots of all the plants men- tioned as food plants. The smaller, more tender, or fibrous roots are eaten by the younger larvae, which, as they become more mature, at- tack the larger roots. Large cavities are eaten along the main roots, and often these are in the form of a groove containing the feeding larva (fig. 19, a). An examination of clover roots, made on Sep- tember 23, showed clearly the after effects of the work of the la
. Bulletin. Insects; Insect pests; Entomology; Insects; Insect pests; Entomology. 36 CEREAL AND FORAGE INSECTS. FEEDING HABITS. The larvae of this beetle feed on the roots of all the plants men- tioned as food plants. The smaller, more tender, or fibrous roots are eaten by the younger larvae, which, as they become more mature, at- tack the larger roots. Large cavities are eaten along the main roots, and often these are in the form of a groove containing the feeding larva (fig. 19, a). An examination of clover roots, made on Sep- tember 23, showed clearly the after effects of the work of the larva?. The roots were eaten at various places, some of them appearing as though the whole surface had been eaten off, the roots being scabby and brown, the damage having evidently been done during late spring or early in the summer. The adults feed on the leaves, eating out irreg- ular patches from the margin of the leaf. (Fig. 19, b.) They are not as hearty eaters as some of the allied species of beetles that live on clover, and hence their work is not so noticeable, except when the beetles have developed in exces- sively large numbers, as was the case at Corning, K Y. FOOD PLANTS. While the genus Tri- folium seems to provide the natural food plants of this insect, there are reasons for believing that others may in future be added. The species hispidulus, when first observed in this country by Doctor Le Conte, was reported by him as present around the roots of grasses growing on sand dunes. Stephens in 1831 reported it in England as being abundant on sandy heaths, which were no doubt grown up with grass. The writer in the spring of 1908 found the larvae in large numbers in a blue-grass pasture. These were to all appearances feeding. Fig. 19.—The clover-root curculio : a, Red clover root showing effects of attack by larvae; 6, red clover leaf showing work of adult beetles. About natural size. (Original.). Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images tha
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