. The American entomologist. Entomology. THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 and beetles below ground. Now, I have a good deal of faith in the accuracy of the Doctor's observations, and accept these statements as truth, the more willingly because the Four- humped, or Apple Curculio, which attacks our apples quinces and haws, docs pass the winter iu the larva state under ground. But had he not found the beetle in company with the larva> and pupa', I should not so readily have accepted such proof, but, like Oliver Twist, should ask for more; for the larvae of several species of snout- bcctles very
. The American entomologist. Entomology. THE AMERICAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 137 and beetles below ground. Now, I have a good deal of faith in the accuracy of the Doctor's observations, and accept these statements as truth, the more willingly because the Four- humped, or Apple Curculio, which attacks our apples quinces and haws, docs pass the winter iu the larva state under ground. But had he not found the beetle in company with the larva> and pupa', I should not so readily have accepted such proof, but, like Oliver Twist, should ask for more; for the larvae of several species of snout- bcctles very much resemble each other, and we arc all liable to make mistakes. Individually, 1 never found Plum Curculio larvae at a greater depdi below ground than six inches, and my cllbrts to liiid lliem in tlie winter under trees from wliich infested fruit had fallen during the previous summer, liave so far been fruitless. As to whether the Curculio is the cause of the I'each-rot, there can be no (luestion whatever that it is greatly instrumental in spreading this dreaded disease. So mucli is this the case, that by protecting fruit in such a manner that no insects can get at it, you may in a great measure save it from rotting: and this is an additiouiil reason why trees should be thoroughly jarred and protected from the Curculio. But I yet hold that the puncture cannot possibly be the tirst cause of Peach-rot. This is sutticiently proved by the lacts, that much of the fruit is punctured long before the rcttiug season com- mences; that the fruit often arrives at perfect maturity, still containiiig the grub; that in cer- tain localities, and iu favorable seasons, the rot is scarcely known, though the fruit is badly punctured; and, finally, that the crescent of the Curculio often (indeed, in the great majority of instances) heals up entirely, thus precluding the idea of any poisonous eft'ect attending the puncture. It might, with equal reason, be argued that the Grape-rots, the Potato-rot
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